The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-10
Our Mechanics.

sion of Congress-
Our Mechanics.
1t is strange that so few of our mechanics IN
this country arrive at distinction in the various
trades and callings in which so many are engaged.
Comparatively to the large number thus employed,
few, very few, excel; by far the greater number
content themselves with "plodding weary way"
and never aspire above mediocrity. There are
reasons for this It is not reasonable to suppose
that every artisan shall become master work
man, but there ought to be larger number OF
professors so to speax-men Of scientific acquire
ments, capable Of giving tone and character TO the
various trades and cailings. We need scientific
men of this class, as well as doctors and lawyers.
Let no mechanic suppose that his situation is an
unimportant one. 1t is not the trade orproiesslon
of man which must give him character, but upon
the man himself devolves the responsibility OF
giving standing and respecsbi!ity to lis calling.
However the point may be controverted, 1t is So,
that IN our glorious country mind is tie only f1ae
standard of moral worth, and mind only ought to
be the aristocracy known and acknowledged; for,
"Worth makes the man. the want of it the fellow"
Our mechanics are among the most useful msmbers
of society the services OF any other class OF men
NAV be as conveniently dispensed with as theirs.
There Is too great disposition among laboring
men to imagine themselves regarded lightly. This
ought not so to be; fol- the upright, honest man,
however humble his position, who requires no
law but his ,oord to make him fulfil an engagement,
is a gentleman; and such only deserve the appe-
lation. Our mechanics do moi properly appreciate
each other: they seem rather to occupy antago'
nistical instead OF contemporaneous relations one
toward another. 1t is unfortunately too often the
case that they are the first to rise en- asse tor the
purpose of CRYING down one of their number who
may happen to discover some improvement upon
old ways of doing things; and did the success Of
any invention originating with one OF their class
depend upon their patronage, the man and his IN
vertion or discovery would be suffered to die and
be buried, "unhonored and unsung" lie is justly
reo,rded as a benefactor of his race "who can
cause two blades of. grass to grow where but
one grew before:" SO also ought the man to be re-
earded who can accomplish as large an amount OF
labor in less time and with greater ease, than was
done before. The wel'.bcing and prosperity OF
our country depend upon the encouragement CIV
en- to the arts and sciences. Let us cautiously
avoid expressing too readily an opinion in regard
10 anv matter, until we are sure OF being right
Judge before friendship then conhde till death,
is a wise and safe motto, and may be applied with
nronrietv in this connection. "What every body
saws must be so," is a very erroneous doctrine,
and is capable of much greater harm than we at
first imagine. No doubt many men, at different
times, have been prevented from prosecuting IN
genious plans and ideas, or making improvements
and discoveries, for fear Of encounterng rldlcule
and contempt. We are aware that we live ih an
age of hunibug and impostlon--hum6ugs not
confined to patent medicines improved Straw
cutters, and such like, but humbugs in the
human FORM; yet the advice "think before you
sneak" is the best that can be given nowadays
We are led to these remarks in noticing the late
Improvement made by plain, unpretendlng' but
worthy citizen of Kershaw District We refer to
Parker's Water Wheel, invented by Emanuel
Parker, for which he has obtained letters patent
This is no bumbug, but is the best water wheel,
We believe, in the United States. With head OF
ten feet of water, properly applied, Mr. Parker will
warrant it to grind, where the materials ofthe mill
are good, from twelve to twenty bushels per hour
This is not guess work, but fact the truth ofwhich
has been and can be SUSTAINED by gentlemen Of
the highest respectability. We regard the invep-
ton of Mr.. Parker as great public benefit ANY
good mechanic can make this wheel, Its simpll'
city is its great value, and for durability and
cheapness, it is unrivalled in this country, so tar
as we have been able to ascertain. All Mr. Parker
asks is trial. Persons desirous to communicate
with him in relation to this matter, may address
Emmanuel Parker, Camden, s. c."