American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-25
For the American telegraph.

MECHANISM, No xIII.-BY JOSIAH ToLBRooK
Next to making surveyors instruments by
young hands would be excursions for using
them. Such excursions would combine in
struction, amusement, and health--in no way
united for girls, and for boys of the most sub
stantial benefit no matter what their future
vocations. An acquaintance with setting the
compass to ascertain the direction of fence,
road, stream of water, or other object carrying
the chain to determine the distance or length
OF o certain. line, keeping o fed-book, and
sundry other operations in practical surveying,
could be rendered familiar by very few excur-
sions, which would Of course be entered into
with great spirit by any company Of boys OF
| girls in the world. slIygst o4i q.4 r.,t asa tIy
With surveying instruments, hammers, CHS
els, and bags for examining. and collecting
minerals, would come Id play most opportunely.
To these might be added pencils and paper fol
making sketches in different departments Of
natural history, of natural scenery, of build
ings, public works, or any interesting object
which might come under view. An afternoon IS
excursion for these several objects, all COM
bined, would furnish ample and profitable work
for the next day; indeed, to fill up the leisure
time for week in preparation for another
occasion, of the same character.
r. Among the exercises on mechanism furnished
by such operations would be penmanship, draw
ing, sketching routes, plans, and other designs
for business purposes, both private and public,
and almost innumerable kinds of work directly
connected with farmers and mechanics, indeed
every body, whether in business or scientific
pursuits, either of the lowest or highest Of
human undertakings. The farmer, by science
thus reduced to practice, would use more skill
and economy in dividing and fencing his fields,
in apportioning his grounds to their respective
II in nj afrIIaf hui l.
ings, indeed in every department of his most
noble occupation. Not only farmers, but mer-
chants, and all classes wishing for the erection
Of buildings could be their own architects; far
more certain to avoid fraud, and to be furnished
with such houses as they desired and expected,
than under the system now common in building
operations. '."
If all the boys, and girls too, in all schools
could be instructed, entertained, and inyigora-
ted by excursions for geology, botany, survey
! ing, pencilings, drawings, &C., the whole race
would have sounder minds in sounder bodies,
and few from the whole would become skilful
and professional artists, engineers, naturalists
and amateurs, and patrons Of practical science,
thus to be extended without limits. Grounds
for complaints now common, indeed almost uni
versal, by parents and other patrons of schools,
that very small returns are received for the
vast outlays for them in time, tuition, books,
and sundry materials, would in a great measure
be removed. The immense expense incurred
simply from the change Of books, now felt so Sc
verely, would in great measure be avoided
If varied, systematic, and thorough lessons were
taken from the book of all books Creatio1a-i
would matter but little what other books were
| used as aids.
Experiments. For several years past the
amusements of August holidays have been
greatly enriched by scientific excursions. y
Those now at hand may doubtless by such oc-
casions be richer than any which have preceded
them. Nearly every boy and girl in Washing
ton, New York, and many other places, is SO
familiar with the minerals composing the ele-
ments of mountains, rocks, and soils, with many
admired for their beauty, as readily to form
collections to take or send to their friends less
acquainted with these important elements OF
knowledge. Aids to science thus rendered
would enable pupils, especially those going into
the country, to procure valuable additions for
their school cabinets. A large portion of such
collections in some schools have been contrib
uted by the pupils, especially on re-assembling
at the close of August holidays.