Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-08-23
EducatIon and Labor.

How many mistaken notions exist even amongst
intelligent men in regard to education! Few agree
in the definition of the term It's extent and instru-
ments its OBJ ect and effect matters of perpetual
controversy. knowledge is power" has become an
axiom but storing the head without learning. and
neglectng to educate the hands have sgnally failed
to create the bones and sinews of strength. That
mans knowledge is only half complete who is unac-
quainted with any practical business of fe notwth-
standing his intellect has fath0med all the depths of
science. Like the bold oeronaut, who, from his cloud
encircled canopy, sees immense tracts of country,
meandering streams, and popuous cities spread out
beneath him, without being able to direct his own
course, or turn his own position to adyantage-the
mere book-worm walking text book of principles,
dates and facts, is the continual sport of accident
and is controlled by the breath of circumstances.
Mechanical labor gives its magical wand of power
to knowledge 1t sinks the shaft in the mine and
exhumes its buried wealth converts the raw mate
rial of agricultural production into useful and gor
geous fabric, constructs the palaces of wealth and
the temples Of God fashions the gnarled oak,
which has stood for centuries battling with the
Winds into swift winged ships; harnesses the ele-
HAents to poRdereus machinery; stamps i'm
mortality upon human thought, thus sending forth
an influence which controls the character Of men
and the destiny of nations.
Who have brought into activity the new and
mighty agencies which now print, spin, weave, dig
and drain forever active in the forge and work
show drive the ship against the wind and tide bring
the ends of continent within hearing of each other
science untaught in all but intellectual labor, but
the educated artzan. The world owes all, or nearly
all its great blessings its wonderful discoveries its
usoful inventions, to the of toll. And why
the present generations not taught useful hand
icraft as we'll as thc principles of science.
But the youth must be taught the latter to be
truly independent The man who does not labor
somewhere, is worse than useless-he is a danger
GUS member of society. He becomes a prey to his
own passions, and scourges others with his own Vi
ces or panders to those who able to crafty his
irregular desires. Yet uncertain are human
events, sudden and entire the changes of indivd
ual position in the closely contested struggles of fe
that mere intellectual cultivation so far from insur
ing independence. may not always provide the ne
cessary means of subsistence
Poverty, however, is noble and independent if the
sinews are strengthened by labor and the hands ed
ucated as we'll as the head. The mechanic is every
where needed to hew and square, to frame and build
to fashion and to weld iron into it's of thousands
OF useful forms; to stretch the lightnings condue
tors across the continents to impress durable form
upon thought, and to achieve the myriads of other
labors which satisfy the cultivated desires of men,
Educate, then, the mind but not neglect the hands
Away with the vain idea current only among dri-
Yelling dotards brainless caricaures of humanity
that the artizan holds secondary rank is society,"
The masses now rule the world: in the old
mOnarches their power is felt and feared. In this
land of freedom, whoever is ruled by Others because
he depends them for support, is unworthy Of his
education as cause of his disgrace.