The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11
MECHANISM. NO. IA.
BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.

Farming and mechanism are the two great
pursuits of human beings. Upon them depend
all other pursuits, both for their success and
their existence Merchants, lawyers, judges,
statesmen, politicians, physicians, clergymen,
artists, oommodores, generals, sailors, soldiers,
travellers, amateurs of science and art, specu-
lstors--men, women, and children, of every
class and condition--can trace their operations,
their success, and their living, TO the labors Of
the farmer and the mechanic. The principles
on which are founded the operations and the sue
cess of these great pursuits must be of some inter-
est to ali classes and to those engaged in them of
paramount Importance. They are no more i'm
portant to the man than interesting to the child.
To farming wider range of science is applica-
BILE than to any other pursuit. Neither the law
yer, physician, clergyman, college professor, nor
any person engaged in any other pursuit, has 30
good opportunities, or so many occasions to be-
come man Of sound extended practical science,
as the farmer. Every farmer is geologst, chem
ist and botanist, though he may not be aware that
he is either. He also takes many severe lessons on
entomology. Lessons on that subject cost Penn
sylvania near twelve millions Of dollars in one
year through the ravsges of the wheat-Hy. Every
motion Of every tool, whether by the farmer or
mechanic, is a practical experiment in natural
philosophy Me- eoroogy, as exhibited in winds,
rains, climates, elevations, and exposures, comes
directly home to the work Of the farmer, showing
TO him its Importance as a subject of knowledge
To moral science his situation is prominently
favorable.
Subjects Of science coming directly to the aid
Of the mechanic, though less numerous than those
Of the farmer, still form large circle. The re-
mark is sometimes made that all science resolves
itself into chemistry and geometry Whether
that remark is strictly true or not, these two
sciences are especially interesting to mechanics.
Mechanism and practical geometry are virtually
one and the same thing Mechanism is the mod
ifcation of form which is geometry put into prac-
tice. Mechanics also have constant occasion TO
use natural philosophy in its various depart
ments.
Under the wise ordinance OF Heaven, the
sciences most essential to human pursuits and hui
man existence are most eagerly sought for by the
Juvenile mind In it's unadulterated, unsophistcat-
ed state. Every child since Adam has been "@h-
Wstrne,Orp in geology, chemistry, geometry, bot
any, entomology, and nearly the whole circle Of
natural science 80 rapid their progress, and so
vast and substantial their acquisition in this kind
and mode Of instruction, as TO render the remark
common that we learn more during the first three
years Of life than in the same time during any
subsequent period--a severe comment on schools.
Lord broughsm once remarked, elf We should
be deprived Of what we learn during the first
three years Of life we should be the most ignorant
beings on the face OF the globen
Though these facts must probably take from
the mouth Of any obector the argument or claim
that young minds are not competent to compre-
hension OF natural science, the objection may still
be urged that the common mechanical exercises
Ia reading, writing, and spelling might he retard-
ed. To that objection II may be replied that, uu-
der the present six or eight years course OF read