Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-08-02
From an Old Paper.
Young Mechanics.

There is no class of the community upor
whom the future welfare of the country more
essentially depends, than upon the rising genera
| ton of young mechanics. If they are intelligent
sober, industrious, and consequently indepenG
ent able and accustomed to Judge orthemselves
and governed in their conduct, BY an enlighten
ed view of their own best interests if they are
men of this sort, the mechanics, and especially
the young mechanics, will form the strongest
bulWark of our free institutions, and the besl
hope of the republic.
Ii on the other hand, they are ignorant, idle
dlssolute, and consequently poor, and dependant
upon those who are willing to trust them, -if our
mechanics should unhappily become such a
class-of which thank God there is but little dam
ger,--they would soon be converted into the
mere tools of a few rich and artfu men, who
having first stripped them of every sense of self
respect, and every feeling proper to viruous
citizens, would use them as passive instruments
for promoting their own ambitious objects, and
for the enactment of laws which are beneficial
to nobody but the artful few with whom they or
iginate.
1t is true of the mechanical arts as of any 9TH
Ell profession, that knowledge is power" and
we earnestly recommend TO the attention of our
friends among the young mechanics, the follow
ing "Hints, copied from the Buffalo Journal
HINTS TO YOUNG MEcHANIcs.-Th first OBJ
iect of mechanic, as it should be that of every
one, is to become thoroughly acquainted with his
particular business or calling. We are too apt
to learn our trade or profession by halves--to
practice it by halves--and hence are compelled
to live by halves-and die by inches.
Study and labor to excel your competitors, and
then you will not fail to command the patronage
of the most discerning and liberal paymasters.-
There is a great variety Of highly useful knowl-
edge which appertains to every branch of bust.
ness, that may be required by course ofjudicious
reading. This knowledge, well digested and
systemized constitutes the science Of every oc-
cupaton. Thus, if you are carpenter, the
science of Architecture should be studied with
profound attention; if ship builder--the science
of navigation and Hydrostatics, and that combi-
nation of them which will give the largest ca
pacity to vessel with the least resistance from
the water, and the greatest safety in time of
danger from the elements. Ifyou are machin-
ist or millwrght--the mechanic powers should
be well understood, and if the machinery is to
be propelled by steam or water, you should stu
dy the science Of Hydraulics, and should have a
perfect knowledge of chemical combination of
heat and water, both in its latent and active state
and understand how it happened that a quart of
water, converted into steam, which by Their
mometer, is nohotter than boiling water, yet will
bring gallon Of water up to the same temper
atnre. If you are hatter--a dyer--a painter,
or tanner, there is no study so useful as Chem
stry.
The fact was known a quarter of a century to
Chemists, that gum sbellac was insoluble in wa
ter before any halter ever used it to make water
proof hats. The whole art of giving beautiful
and durable colors to different bodies, depends
entirely upon the chemical affinity of such bod
les for the cooring material, and affinity of this
latter, for the different colored rays of light.
We speak understandingly when we say that
The tanners and the public in the United States,
lose millions dollars annually from the lack OF
scientific knowledge how to best combine vege-
table tan1sin with animal gelatin, which is the
chemical process of making leather-call it by
what other name you please.
There is a vast amount of knowledge which
is now completely useless, that ought to be bro't
home to the understanding of every operative in
this republic. We love industry and respect all
who practice it. But labor without study is like
a body without soul. Cultivate and enrich the
mind with all useful knowledge and rest assur-
ed that an intelligent understanding will teach
the hands how to earn dollars when the ignorant
only earn cents.