The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-02

BY JOSIAH AoLBRook.


Simplicity and vastness mark the works Of
God. These are especially the strong features
in the mechanism oil the universe. The term
mechanism, in the largest and minutess sense
Of the word, presents vast idea-a subject
inexhaustibly rich, inexpressibly beautiful, and
iIimitably useful. A telescope and microsco-
pic view Of the subject is indispensable even to
limited comprehension of it. The mechanism
of the heavens is so vast us to require a tele-
scope even to get glimpse Of it. The work OF
infusoria, or microscopic animals, is wholly be-
yond the power Of the naked eye. Vegetable
mechanism, in thousands of forms, is inexpres-
sibly minute and beautiful, when viewed by n
powerful microscope. Within square inch
ofsurface in certain leaves plants, microscope
ha. shown hundred and seventy thousand
openings or mouths for receiving carbonc acid
gas from the air, to form the substance Of the
plant-an important fact for farmers.
The animated universe, or living rowing
things, exhibit mechanism inexpressby varied,
rich, and beautiful, both in their forms and
motions. A fish never moves fin, a bird
wing. centipede foot, quadrupcd limb, or
human being finger, without an exhibition of
some principle or form of mechanism. The
infinitely varied forms Of ma ural objects, en-
bracing animal, vegetable, and mineral crea-
ton, are fur beyond the comprehension of any
human being within the period of the longest
natural life. Able Hauy, Of France, spent his
whole life on the subject Of crystallography-
the forms and relations Of mineral substances
The most finished human architect, either in
ancient or mo FERN times, though producing
works to be admired through ages, Ia mere
point, well nigh dark speck, when compared
with the Great Architect Of the Universe
a 4 Al. 1t
ness, the beauty, the sublimity, the glory of the
architecture Of the heavens and Of the earth
the orbits of the planets and the structure of
leaves, and the microsccp, work of insects, HUI
man architecture is poor indeed.
While mechanism, in the broadcast sense Of
the word has stretch too far, and a division
too minute, for any human power, during any
human life, to comprehend, tile clements Of the
whole are entirely within the reach of the child
Of five, or even seven years old. The most i'm
portant element is the most simple object Of
human observations simple three-sided figure
or eqnilateral triangle. Such figure every
nupil in any school Of five or Ave hundred
scholars may form, at least approximate, any
moment when the opportunity should be affor-
ded by their teacher simply by placing before
them states and pencils, with permission to use
them. Several Of these figures combined ex-
hibit the mechanism of the snow flake. Com
bined in a different form, they show the crystal
of the diamond, Of gold, of iron, of lead, and OF
nenrly hundred forms of mineral crystals.
The next most mple fgue, the square, is the
next most rich and varied in its combinations
For human mechanism, it is even more impor-
tant than the triangle, and scarcely less within
the skill Of the child
BY short series of short articles on the sub
ject of mechanism, an attempt will be made to
show the Importance to every human being If
familiar acquaintance with it's elements, and
its entire fitness for practical exercises in the
primary instruction of every pupil the moment
he enters school,
No. g
Themost simple object which can be brought
to view probably is the equilatera Triangle
figure with three equal sides and angles. 1t is
as curious as it is simple, and because it is SIM
Pile. 1t is perhaps the most important element
of material forms, and the most powerful instru-
ment for measuring the heavens and the earth.
II is the element of snow fl lkes in their greatly
multiplied forms; of the crystal of the diamond
and of very numerous mineral substances Of
the honeycomb, and of insect architecture
greatly extended Of the structure of numer-
Gus leaves Of plants, of vegetable fibre, and of
the mechanism of vegetables under different
notifications; of mountain architecture. as
sometimes exhibited and of natural mechanism,
as produced by the hand Of the Creator, in forms
too numerous to be described, and too beautiful
to be conceived. The work Of human Skill, in
greatly multiplied FORMS has also this same
most simple figure 70. its element. The paving
of Streets the structure of floors, the forming
of had ouiifs tho uyovk IF ho tto
gneer, the architect, and Of artisans and artists,
in their toughest and finest mechanism, can, not
unfrequently, be traced to the equateral TRAN
gle ms the starting point
This same figure, modified by divisions and
combinations, is wholly indispensable as an in
strument for surveying land, navigating the
ocean, determining the forms, magnitudes, dis
tances, motions, and numerous phenomena of
the heavenly bodies.
In making.and applying this fruitful eleme- t of
material forms and powerful instrument, both of
human and divine purposes, are brought into
use the slate and pencil, pen, ink, and paper,
scale and dividers the brush and paints scissors,
knife, saw, plane, chisel, and various other tools
BY these tools, applied to their appropriate ma
terials, this one most simple of all figures NAV
be 30 combined, modified, and extended as to
present forms of beauty, taste, and practical
utility which carnot possibly fail to secure the
admiration of the most obdurate dulness, or to
show its varied and important uses to every
farmer, mechanic, and usekeeper--iDdeed, to
every being having hands, eyes, and mind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS offered to boys
and girls to prepare illustrations of mechanism
in it's first elements never fail to afford them the
most delightful Of all amusements especially
as they thus produce fruits securing the admira-
ton of their friends. Such specimens Of juverp.
lie skill sent, short time since, from Wash.
ington to a "ScHoLARs' FAIR" in New York,
were objects of general admiration by the crowd
Of visitors viewing them, and noticed in strong
terms of commentator by several editors pres
ent on the occasion, in the public journals un-
der their direction. Mechanical drawing il now
regular exercise in the New York public
schools rs il should be in every school and
every family in all countries.
A New CLAIM AGAINST MExIco.-Some time
since we saw it stated that the Mexican minis