Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-07-17
Education and Labor.


How many mistaken notions exis
amongst even inteIigen, men in regard Il
education Few agree in the definition o.
he term. Its extent and instruments. its
obiec, and effects are matters of perpetual
controversy. knowledge is power,'
has become an axiom. but storing the head
withou, learning, and nes!ec,ing to educate
The hands have signaly failed 10 create
the bones and sinews Of strength. That
mans knowledge is only halt complete
Who is unacquainted with any practical
business Of life, notwithstanding his in,eiecl
has falhomed all the depth Of science.
Like the bold ;eronau', who, from his
coud.encirc|ed canopy, secs immense
tracts Of country, meanderng streams, and
popuious cities spread out beneath him,
without being able 10 direct his own course
or turn his own position 10 advantage-he
mere book-worm, a walking textbook of
principles, da'cs aud facts, Is the continual
sport Of accident, and Is controlled by the
breath Of circumstances.
Mechanical labor gives lis magical wand
Of power TO knowledge. II sinks the shaft
in the mine and exhumcs lis buried wealth ;
converts the raw material Of agricultural
production into useful and gorgeous fabrics;
constructs the palaces Of wealth and rears
the temples OF God fashions the gnarled
oak, which has stood ior centuries battling
with The winds, into swif-winSed siriP, ,
harnesses the elements to ponderous ma
chinery or stamps an immortality upon
human thought, thus sending forth an in-
fluence which controls the character OF
men and the destiny Of nations.
Who have brough, into activity the new
and mighty agencies which now print,
spin, weave, dig and drain, are forever ac-
tive in The forge and workshop, drive the
ship against wind and tide, bring the ends
ofa continent within hearing Of each other
and unveil the mysteries of the heavens
Not men Of science uniaught in all bu. in
.ellectual labor, but the educated ariizan.
The world owes all. or nearly all its great
blessings, its wonderful discoveries, lis
Useful inventions, 10 the SONS OF toll. And
Why are the presen, generation mol taught
some useful handi ,ral, as well as the prin-
cipcs Of science!
Blu. the youth mu1t be Taught the latter,
to be truly Independent. The man who
does not labor somew here, is worse Than
useless-he is dangerous member Of So
ciety. He becomes a prey to his own
passions, and scourges others with his own
vices, or panders 10 those who are able to
crafty his irregular desires. Yet so un.
certain are human events, so sudden and
entire the changes Of individual position in
the closely contested struggles Of life, that
mere intellectual cultivation, so far from
insuring independence. may not always
provide the necessary means Of subsistence.
Poverty. however, is noble and indepen-
dent. if the sinews are strengthened BY la.
Dor and the hands educated as well as the
head. The mechanic is everyw here need
ed 10 hew and square, to frame and build /;
10 fashion and weld iron into its tens OF
thousands Of useful forms to stretch the
lighining's conductors across the CONT.
nenls; to impress durable form upon
thought, and 10 achieve the myriads OF 9th
er labors which satisfy the cultivated de-
sires Of men. pEGuca,e, then, the
mind, but neglect not the hands. Away
with the vain idea, current only among
dwelling dolards or brainless caricalures
of humanity. that the ar,izan holds secon.
dairy rank in society. The masses now
rule the world even in the old monar.
ch'es their power is telt and feared. In
this land q freedom, whoever is ruled By
others. because he depends upon them 70,
support, Is unworthy Of his education as
one cause of his disgrace.-no