Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-05
MECHANISM, No. K.-B1 JOSIAH HoIHnoox.

.... roR THE NATIONAL IsTELL1sEscER.
No one exercise in mechanism probably furnishes much
instruction or entertainment forming, dividing combining
and drawing the "fve regular solids" Such exercise
calls into combined and vigorous action the hand head and
heart for illustrating sciences in their application to
numerous arts. II is -emnently "muhum in parro"-
much in little.
The most simple Of these five solids is the most simple
figure with LENGTH BREADTH and thickness, that be made
can be formed by any hand eight old in five minutes
piece Of pasteboad divided into four equatera ranges
may be folded in instant into this figure. Twenty OF
these most simple solids combined in their most compact
FORM give the most complex Of the five regular solids
Twenty tetrahedrons form cosohedron Each OF these
may be formed into very numerous combinations OF them
selves and in connexion with each other and both with the
ocahedron and other Solids may produce forms literally with
out end every one illustrating Of the works of God
man, probably both.
The cube formed by the folding of six squares into sod
capable perhaps, Of still more divisions and combinations
than either of the figures just named These divisions and
combinations certainly directly applicable to the
daily business pursuits Of all classes than any other figures
perhaps than almost any other subject which be named
The cube in its various divisions and combinations, furnish
very good perhaps the very best drawing exercises which
be put into the hands of pupil The drawings, if made
and POSITIONS would be certain avoid radical defect
common indeed almost universal in drawing Lessons given
in schools and elsewhere. The drawing
else is nothing less than copying pictures, which,
however long continued enss the energies of the SOUL
for the simple that the soul enters and
enter into the spirit Of the subject The uniform result
nearly of this faacious instruction is that the pupil after
taking drawing lessons, supposed for years. is
luc,ant in attempting original selch showing thing
in its picture made by hmse than young pupils in their
very first attempts using pencil This statement though
presenting sad defect and very general deception the
part teacher pupil and parent fully substantated by
facts and experiments it is possible for facts and expert
substantiae any truth The most skul drawing
uniformly place before their pupils the CIRCULAR
soLIDs in actual visible form, for of their very first
lessons This is evidently commencing at the very founda
ton of the whole subject and prepares the hand
and the mind understand and appreciate any work which
may follow in the train thus commenced. The mathema-
tca Solids especially the cube, may be divided and
bined represent different parts Of buildings TOOLS
and utensils of various kinds which, drawn in per-
specve prepare any person to give correct drawing Of any
building he may wish erected, any machine he may wish
patented or any tool he may desire made.
extensive in both had in New York Juvenile Art Union
quarterly exhibition of original drawings by bis pupils
connected with various schools in the CITY, The younger
pupils Just commencing their work. uniformly entered heartily
and successfully into the exhibitions, while the older pupils
having had they supposed drawing lessons for years,
uniformly declared themselves unable prepare any original
pieces for these interesting occasions.