American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-02
For the American Telegraph.

MECHANISM, No. XIv-BY JOSIAH HoLDEooK
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, commodores, generals, sailors, soldiers,
travellers, amateurs Of science and art specu-
lators-Inen, 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
success of these great pursuits must be Of some
interest to all classes, and to those engaged in
them of paramount Importance. They are no
more important to the man than interesting to
the child. To farming wider range of science
is applicable than to any other pursuit. Neither
the lawyer physician, clergyman, college pro-
fessor, nor any person engaged in any other
pursuit, has so good opportunities, or so many
occasions, to become man of sound extended
practical science, as the farmer. Every farmer
is geologist, chemist, and botanist, though he
may not be aware that he is either He also
takes many severe lessons on entomology. Les
sons on that subject cost Pennsylvania near
twelve millions of dollars in one year through
the ravages Of the wheat-fy. Every motion oi
every tool, whether by the farmer or the me.
chanic, is practical experiment in natural
philosophy. Meteorology, as exhibited in winds,
rains, climates, elevations, and exposures, comes
directly home to the work of the farmer show
ing to him its importance as subject of know
ledge. To moral science his situation is pre-
eminently 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 remark 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 10
mechanics Mechanism and practical geome- |
try are virtually one and the same thing Me- |
chanism is the modification Of form, which is
geometry put into practice. Mechanics also
have constant occasion to use natural philoso-
ply in its various departments.
Under the wise ordinance Of Heaven, the
sciences most essential TO human pursuits and
human existence are most eagerly sought for
by the juvenile mind in its unadulterated, un-
sophisticated state. Every child since Adam
has been +" selfinstructor'' in geology, chemis-
try, geometry, botany, entomology, and nearly |
the whole circle of natural science so rapid |
their progress and so vast and substantial their |
acquisition in this kind and mode of instruc-
ton, 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 |
Brougham once remarked, If 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 globe"
Though these facts must probably take from
the mouth of any objector the argument or
claim that young minds are not competent to a
comprehension Of natural science, the objection
may still be urged that the common mechanical
exercises in reading, writing, and spelling might
be retarded. To that objection it may be replied
that, under the present six or eight years course
Of reading lessons, good reader is the rarest
thing in the world-almost and under n course
of writing lessons of about the same length,
very few write q plain, full, legble hand BY
courses Of these two subjects, founded on prac-
teal science, nearly every one would be ma
tural, good reader and legble writer. Both |
cases con be substantiated by facts, fully, |
clearly, and triumphantly; as can the same
truth in relation to any and every subject Of
common. school instruction.
Expeyfment-A lady in Pennsylvania once
remarked that she should forever be grateful
to those persons who introduced the natural
sciences into the school of her children. Pre-
viously, she had given up all hopes of her
youngest son ever learning any thing. Now
his progress in his various studies is more rapid
and thorough than that of his elder brother,
considered a good scholar. Changes of bad |
scholars into good, the worst into the best, from
the same cause, are without number.
The following extract from q letter from Hon,
Edmund Burke, late Commissioners Of Patents