The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-01-27

lall to this strange Elasticity ofanimal nature
The earth isa iaboratory,in which as chem
ist man has hardly begun to'operate. A few
loose samples of what it is composed have
been partiall apalyzed, but the bulk is not
broken into, Then the infnity Of processes
1ceaselessly and silently going on in organized
and inert matter has to be grappled WITH
AS factory, too, furnished with implements
and materials in superabundance, little has
been done in it-nothing worth naming, in
view of what has to bedone. The rich stock
has been neglected-not talf Of it has been
yet even seen-while forces for fabricating it
have from the beginning of, time been, some
running to waste, others lying dormant for
want Of being called up to labor. ,.s.
When every force, latent and manifest, is
brought into service and made the most Of
when man has spread his influence over ev-
cry foot Of the. earth's surface, and brought
the stores beneath it within his reach--when
mundane matter, in whatever form appear
| ing, is made to contribute to his ends-when
the planet is wholly changed from its natu-
raj wildness, as harbor for untamed brutes
and noxious reptiles, into fit theatre for
cultivated intelligences-it will be time
enough to speak Of human advancement as
eliminating, and the arts as approaching the
limits of perfection.
Till these things come to pass, instead Of
looking for no more discoveries, we should be
prepared for constant succession of them.
Prepared or not, they are to come; forthe
hosts of keen intellects interrogating nature
in our own country, and the legions as busy
in others, are not entreating her for nothing,
nor for trifles.
Civilization may be likened to statue, the
carving of which is the business of the spe-
cies. Itincludes all duties and furnishes ap-
propriate employments for the varied capac-
titles of all men for all time. Each success
i've age withdraws one band of laborers, and
brings forward another, whose faithfulness,
awkwardness, or negligence, advances or
retrogrades the work. Under barbarism it
was shapeless block; with the dawn Of
knowledge its features began to appear, and
then nations occupied themselves in chisel-
ling away superfuous material and bringing
them into higher relief During the last
! century some artist-like touches were added
more have been in the present one-and
in the next this great moral sculpture will
be further improved, for the time can never
be when to it new graces and higher polish
cannot he given. To those who add nothing
Z to its existence is blank.
; DISCOVERIES AND IMPROVEMENTS ENDLESS.
The arts are like plants, proliferous, and
S like them, too, can only be improved by cul-
ture. The transformations wrought by hor.
E ticulturists and pomologists are all but in.
t credible. Peaches were originally poisonous
e almonds, and used to impregnate arrow:
: with deadly venom, Cherries are derived
a from a bergyOf which a single one only grew
e on a stem; nectarines and apricots are hy-
: brids of the plum and peach; the chief Of
/ esculents, with its rel tives, broccoli and
caulihower, come from aSmarine plant, from
: the common sea-cale, which shoots up on
: some sandy shores. From wild sour crabs,
/ scarcely larger than boys marbles, have pro-
: ceeded all varieties of apples. The largest
: and richest of plums are descendants of the
r blackthorn's bitter sloe. Suchare mere spec
, linens of vegetable metamorphoses brought
D by transplanting, acclimating, crossings and
d culture.
# 1t is much the same with the fruits and
i flowers ofart. They are nothing till improv-
n ed by cultivation; and from very humble and
: ignoble sources they, too, spring. A tow,
+ ling piece is childs pop-gun elaborated
! Iclay-huts were the germs of our marble man
: sions; ship is a ripened canoe; and the
n steam engine itself may be traced to cover:
Ieected from primeval caldrons. The highest
/ elegancies are descendants OF very homely
/ progenitors. Our lads adjust their shawls o.
d Cashmere before glass mirrors supported by
y 4 Psyches; primitive bellies covered theft shoul
g ders with skins of newly-slain animals, ant
) admitted their unctuous faces in pans OF wa
: ter and polished stones. A jacquard loon
y is an Indians weaving frame matured; ant
n printed volumes are deducible from quippo:
l. and historic belts Of wampum. Like plants
le inventions grow and multiply, and to con
rs genial minds presenta class OF varied beau
!, ties, captivating as any with which amateur
q and professional florists are charmed.
9 Newly acquired truths in physics are keys
- each of which unlocks world of wonders
, Every new art gives birth to a thousand. Tht
= range of discovery is undoubtedly illimitablt
: Ia truth that has only dawned recently will
lull lCullNlCtlOu CNOh upoh S"'oho' ~ SNh'o
IS ry ago few minds were prepared to receive it
}, and fewer to act on it. Pregnant with hope
" with present and prospective acquisitions, i
lie is among the divinest Of modern convictions
> Navigators have added, some lslauds, other
" continents, and the wool-comber's son O
lie Genoa gave a hemisphere to Geography. Thi
k done, Comparatively little was left of tn
,r earth's surface to explore. 1t is not so will
: science, nor the applications of science
lr In them fresh additions, new continents
d new worlds, and new systems, are reallzab
r forever. The study Of natures mechanisms
d Of Gods own applications of the same prin
o ciples and materials He has given inven
tors to work with, is only beginning, Th
S Universe is before inventors, and all its ele
+ ments and energies invite their attention.
Il There is, therefore, no danger in expecting o
d attempting too much, provided they aspir
o not beyond where Nature herself has gone
: and even then illusions vanish with expert
= ment.
: There is good moral to be drawn by DARN,
J inventors from this iathomless and boundles
e ocean ofnovelties, ,--itis this; Avoid crowd
Of small craft in quest of improvements, an,
: launch out your barks in search Of origina
l. things. True genius is rather ambitious 4
{ bring up pearls of its own, than solicitor
! to polish those of other men, Since there ]
!, such abundance Of room for all, it should b
= the determination Of every one to occup
q some pround ~ hie nyvn tn use another flo