New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-24

merits To the poor we give foo1 and rhnen''
- the wdax home 70 the bind aud nsane HI
asylum but 10 the apprentice We give 'ne lneaas
ii education the light OF intellect, the power 70
govern himself and to govern otherb We place
him a: tie base Of the pedestal from which step
by ,tep be may advance to The hlgheat honofs
which cur country offers. We owe it TO she aP-
prentice we owe L to ourselves, and 70 our safety
ttle reflection on our condition IN NE, VIII snow
US tie necessity of nsing every ef0r. 10 strengthen
and improve our minds Man comes INTO the
world, much more helpless, and continues ID that
state much longer, than any other animal WITHOUT
the care Of parents, be would perish; without
the aid Of their experience and instruction he must
be deploraby ignorant. He is 80 famed az to be
compelled to follow reason as his guide whereas
all other animals have guide 10 their constitution
and in their instinct. Let US philosophze on this
fer few nomen:s. No animal but man wan"
clothing nature has provided in this respect ior
the brute creation must furnish this lndlspen-
sable necessity for himself No animal but ian
requires preparation for his food his grain mqh DC
ground, bis bread baked and his N at cooked, and
Re must lind salt as an important preseryatlye.
No climate yields spontaneously sufficient ood Tor
mer vet every climate can supply the wants OF
other animals. Instinct only, carries the brute
creation to what may be required instinct carries
men as far, and vanity carries them further The
swallow buildo te neat with mortar, End the crow
With sticks man frat erects hut, then palace
Man from hia reason, is enabled tORdo more than
other animals be can raise plants, and gather
fruits and seeds; he can convert these fruits and
seeds into bread and vine; he can manufacture
silk WOOL and fax ho can smes minerals aud
produce metals be can do many things Tor lis
comfort and convenience by the use Of bis reason,
and without cultivating hia mind reason will run
wild Reason therefore is the highest gift which
Providence has bestowed upon man. Ii ID
given to him in place OF instinct, 70 lead him to
the chief felicity which nature lie capable oil ENJOY
Il -,f.,l,o Atr-1,,a
impulse and we must assist each other to acquire
it by all the means in our power library ia
dciously selected 10 the Garden OF Eden. 10 which
is planted the tree of useful knowledge, the fruit OF
which ia life, not death; we have that Library
here, e planted shatttlc branch which has grown
into goodIy tree, fair TO the eye, and we mus1 wa
ter it BY our lberaty until it bears golden fruit
pleasant to the taste This is peculiarly benevo-
lent institution. If poor little ragged apprentice
hoy, feels disposed 70 drink deep at the Piaroan
Spring, where is he 20 go to Stake his thirst! He
can have sccess to no private library II be enters
the Society Library, which ia noble INST tutloo,
he will be told that none bat subscribers have lib
ery to rehd or to tax g home books to read. II he
wanders into the valuable Library established
through the munfcence Of the late Mr. Astor, he
will be told that there is no prOvielOn In the be.
quest which can embrace his case he looks around
with sigh and beholds splendidiy bound books,
many Of which may never be opened guided at
educated enjoy ing the intellectual banquet, but,
alas he who ia in the search Of knowledge ls not
an invited guest. he has only the inheritance OF
rags; his mind s clear his Intellect bright, his de-
sire to learn and improve is intense, but his na1ds
are back from labor and his dress coarse from
poverty. There il still, however, balm in Gllead,
for the poor apprentice boy he has no! beer for
gotten there are hearts which have felt or his tor
orn position, and hands which have been stretched
forth for his relief BE can enter here, proudly
IS those no enter other librares there is 40 rude
ianitor who will thrust him forth to live and die IN
ignorance here he is q welcome guest his pres
eDce is desired, be takes his seat aud enjoys the
rich repRnt spread before him Here sre voy-
Bgeg and travels, books Of dction, wit and hu-
mour always the frat to whet the appetite
or reading; then the rich stores of History are
open to him. beginning aWGya WITH tbs history OF
his own country. He reads what home ana
Greece ere in their palmv days; he is familiar
with events in England, from the time OF William
the Conqueror he knows all about France and
Spain, from the time OF the G0ths and andaIs he
is amiliar with the History Of the World, On this
foundation be builds bis superstructure he slides
insensibly into course OF Bellies Lettres and Pc.
lite Literature he becomes familiar with the tine
Arts he studies Mathematics greatest OF all
Gtudies to make man acquainted with himself and
20 deduce effects from causes, he studies
architecture, machinery and the practical de.
tails of all mechanical pursuits; he is &C.
and his own rights - -!
out of his time, he steps forward as
condemned as many who have taken their degrees
at O. ford and at Eton and If bis Country or MS
State REQUIRE bis services in public statonE, ne can
take his segt in the Assembly, in Congress, or In
the Cabinet with all the good, sound, common
aense-more av aiIabe 70 THAI service than me at
tainme nts'ofshe bar, the pulpit, or tho dS'eFla
Medica
This gentlemen, is the work of the founders OF
the Apprentices Library it has already sent forth
its able men, and will continue to qualify oFhefs ior
the important part which they have to sustain
through life. But more aid is wanted there are
more shelves to fill all the new publications. OF the
aee-sn age wonderful for its improvement
Should be procured for this Library, if means can
be found 10 accomplish an end 30 desirable. Let
NE zee what has been already accomplished by
those who hare preceded US, and we may from the
past, be able to calculate the prospects Tor the
future.
wear 1855 to 1920, the operations OF the
Mecbspics' Society were confined chiefly to
to benevolent objects, the relief OF Its ndisent
members, their widows and orphana, and N lc2O
the School and Library were established. The o6'
iect of the school was to relieve the less fortunate
mechanics from what they deemed the humiliation
of sending their children to charity school, ~
having them educated in the same scnool Wi'a
pay scholars the knowledge ofpay and free achoI,
ars being confined to the members OF the Scnooi
Committee. This practice, delicate aud proper in
itsef ia still maintained. The school improved
rapidly, and is now, l am pleased to state in
aouriahing condition and ranks as high as any IN
the City 1t has been sustained at considerable
cost to the Society, receiving from the public oaly
the usual allowance for the number OF free schoi.
ars taught and has about 500 scholars ana aooos
20 teachers, each department, male and female, ar
ranged into seven classes taught In aeparate CABS
rooms. The library was established at the same
time, receiving small contributions of books and
money from our fellow citizens, and was opened at
the time l have before stated in the old Free
acbool building at the corner of Chatham ST, and
Tryon.row. The new building in Chambersit' was
erected in the following year In 1852 the oociesy