American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-19
For the American Telegraph.

I
turning lathe is an instrument of science,
skill, and taste-boundless in each, consequently
4 Oh usefulness and pleasure The varieties of
work, capable of being done by the lathe, are
numberless and nameless. Each new piece Of
work suggests several others ''stSe oa
Inc hrst most simple thing to be made by q
/ lathe IS the cylinder, a round stick. Next is
the cone, cylinder tapered to point at one
end. Then the sphere, perfectly round body.
These give the starting point, the foundation
for all other round bodies Among the articles
readily made by lathe are boxes of endless va
4 rety, handles, knobs for doors and sundry other
/ purposes; letter stamps, sand boxes. screws
needle cases, canes, rake teeth, pins and trun-
dies, tops, minerals and various tools polished,
drlllings made, spools, bobbins, plates cups,
| SC.
Besides an endless variety of sundries, three
articles of very great Importance, each con-
stantly enlarging, may be made by the lathe, as
source of instruction, amusement and profit
to those preparing for future usefulness and
responsibility. These are globes, surveyors
compasses, and microscopes. After obtaining
globe print, mot difficulty any boy, or girl
either, can make their own globes, simply by
turning sphere Of the right size and pasting
upon it the print. After the globe is covered,
paint and varnish will put on the finish--the
whole exactly fitted to young hands and inquisi-
tive minds With globes balls for orreries, tellu-
RUINS, and other astronomical and geographical
illustrations, will naturally come in the train!
By the use of q lathe every boy can make his
own surveyors compass. 1t would, of course,
be simple-just such as would be best fitted for
his first experiments in surveying. The box
could be made of wood the needle magnetized
by the pupil himself, and the figures for the
dial-plate, the sight, and every thing essential
for his surveying experiment, could be made by
the pupils own hands His scientific knowledge
and his practical skill would begin and advance
together.
Microscopes vary in price from twenty-five
cents to FIVE hundred dollars. BY little skill in
the use of the lathe, any boy girl of ten years
old could grind lens for simple microscope,
to be used by themselves and their friends.
Perhaps it would be difficult to conceive of d
much more instructive or entertaining house
hold utensil or pocket companion than a micro
scope. 1t virtually creates a new world, sur
rounding us on every side. 1t may well be
doubted whether any one thing would add more
to the amount of human happiness than micro
scope magnifying glass in every family in
the world, especially if made by the younger
members.
1t is not necessary further to enlarge upon
the uses of turning lathe to show its great i'm
portance as an instrument of instruction and
entertainment in every school and family too.
No one can doubt that it would do more to cure
the truant and prevent rowdyism than the larg-
est supply of the "juice ofhe birch" in schools,
or houses of refuge for juvenile delinquents on
every other corner of the streets in all prin-
cpal cities.
ExPERIMENTs.-Withina few weeks past sun
dry teachers and parents in Washington have
encouraged their pupils and children to prepare
specimens of writing, drawing, mechanism, &C.,
as offerings to patriotism and to science, to be
distributed by the hands of government func-
tionaries, both of our own and foreign countries,
for exhibition at agricultural fairs, &c. As
could be doubted by no one, all concerned give
their united testimony in proof of extraordinary
improvement, both of the hands and minds, of
pupils thus vigorously directed to SO high an
object.