The southern press., 1851-08-27
For the Southern Press.
MECHANISM yo. XIX.-By Josiah HoIbro0k.

Let there be light, was the first command ever
given. Let your light shine before others, is
another command from the same authority.
Except for the first command this world might
as well not have been. Except for the second,
or the spirit Of IT, the first must have been CON-
plratiyely without an object Physical light
was the object of the first command moral
light that Of the second.
Giving light Is perhaps the highest object Of
human or divine aim. While il is the highest
object, 1t is also probably the richest source Of
happiness. To communicate is withall source
Of pleasure; most Of all to the young and
unadulterated. With children, narrative is
graphic; because simple, fresh, and truthful
A case. A girl Of FIVE years, on being asked what
she did at school, replied, say A and B and sit
on a bench" Truth coming fresh from such
gushing fountain affords rich pleasure to the re-
ceiver, and still richer to the giver. The doc
trine that {" il is more blessed TO give than TO
receive" is Of old and high authority. This s
especially true In giving light, as giving is not
diminishing, but the richest mode Of increasing.
These are great truths TO all; most Of all TO
those selected to fit the young for their future
vocations, BY enlightened minds and elevated
characters In an address before conerega-
ton Of Washington schools, by B. b. French,
fTtblutUb VI Ilt u VI nlutFuans Ut Tt-
marked, I" To drink in learning is one thing I; TO
pour IL out for the benefit Of others is quite
another thing. Information, simply to be re-
tained, Is like the wealth OF the miser." The
knowledge mser is even more unfortunate than
the money miser; as the less I've gives the less
he has. In the New York schools, where send
ing light abroad is part Of their system, il Is a
uniform fact that those which diffuse most light
abroad shine brightest al home. What is tue Of
schools is Of course true with the individual
pupils composing those schools. Those who
give little have little those who give much
have mu,h. Among the numerous teachers
and parents in Washington whose pupils and
children have prepared specimens Of their i'm
provement fer the express o. ject OF aiding the
Improvement Of others, every one speaks with
the highest pleasure Of rich delight and rapid
progress as the results. Without a word on
the question Of corporal punishment" teach.
ers can be assured that by permitting their pu.
pills TO enjoy the pleasure, feel the dignity, and
acquire the light arising from imparting light
10 others-making regular offerings 10 patriot
| ism and 10 science--they will find no occasion
or place for corporal punishment The whole
school will be high above it.
The richest fields for acquiring knowledge to
| impart again are those Of nature aud srt-scence
applied To human pursuits most OF all TO agri
culture and mechanism. In each Of these pur
suits there is a bouDdless field for acquiring
the richest knowledge. made still richer by i'm
parting il TO others. For thus imparting ligh
opportunities are never wanting. Teachers in
stitutes, sch Dol superintendent, members o.
Congress, Of State Legislatures and Govern
mcnt funetionaries Of every class and grade. ag
rcultural and mechanics fairs and " ost Of al
and for all, @Industria Exhibitions" for tht
schools of the country, and the whole country
to be held in connexion and general reciprocal
ton with ench other, furnish opportunities in ex
istence or in prospect for difiusing the light o
practical science TO all and thus 10 render all thrie
blessed-once blessed in receiving, twice il
giving.
| ExPERIMEST.-Specimens Of mechanism
drawing, minerals, and other productions OF ma
ture and art were sent some time since from IN
New York schools to Palestine, and TO the sever
al islands in the Mediterranean. In return wer
received specimens OF the asling stone" suppose
to be Of the same kind as that used by David i
his conflict with Goliah; also some Of the "husk
which the swine did eat" referred TO in the pars
BILE Of the Prodigal Son, and several others o
interesting Bible associations.