The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-16
MECHANISM.-No. XIX.
BY JOSIAH HOLBROOK,

Let there be light, was the first command
ever given Let your light shine before others
is another command from the same authority
Except for the first command this world might
rs well not have been Except for the second
or the spirit of it the first must have been com.
paratiyeIy without an object Physical light
was the object Of the first command moral
light that of the second
Giving light is perhaps the highest object OF
human or divine aim. While it is the highest
object, it is also probably the richest source OF
happiness. To communicate il with all a source
of pleasure; most Of all 10 the young and una
dulterated. With children narrative il graph
ic; because simple, fresh, and truthful. A
case. A girl of five years, on being asked what
she did at school, replied, al say A and B. and
sit on bench" Truth coming fresh from such
gushing fountain affords rich pleasure to the
receiver, and still richer to the giver The doc
trine that " it is more blessed to give than to
receive" is of old and high authority. This is
especially true in giving light as giving is not
diminishing, but the richest mode Of increasing
These are great truths to all most of all TO
those selected to fit the young for their future
yocations, by enlightened minds and elevated
characters In an address before q congrega-
ton Of Washington schools, by b B. French
President Of the city Board Of Aldermen he re-
marked 80 drink in learning II one thing to
pour it out for the benefit of others is quite
another thing information, simply TO he re-
tanned Is like the wealth Of the mlser" The
knowledge miser is even more unfortunate than
the money miser rs the less he gives the lees
he has. In the New York schools, where send
ing light abroad il part of their system, IL is
uniform fact that those which diffuse most
light abroad shine brightest at home What
il true Of schools IL Of course true with the indi-
vdual pupils composing those schools. Those
who give little have little those who give much
have much Among the numerous teachers
and parents in Washington, whose pupils and
children have prepared specimens OF their i'm
proyement for the express object OF aiding the
improvement Of others, every one speaks with
the highest pleasure Of rich delight and rapid
progress M the results. Without a word on the
question of " corporal punishment" teachers can
be assured that by permitting their pupils ~ en-
joy the pleasure feel the dignity, and acquire the
light arising from mparting light TO others
making regular offerings 10 patriotism and to
science--thcy will find no occasion or place for
corporal punishment The whole school will be
high above IT,
The richest fields for acquiring knowledge 10
mpart again ARE those 0f nature and art-4sci-
ence applied to human pursuits most Of all to
agriculture and mechanism. Ia each Of these
pursuits there il a boundless field for acquiring
the richest knowledge, made still richer by i'm
parting it TO others For thus imparting light,
opportunities are never wanting. TeacherS in
stitutes, school superintendent, members Con-
gres~, Of State Legislatures, and Government
k,nctionaries Of every class and grade, agricul.
tural and mechanics fairs and mos: OF all and
for all, Industrial Exhibitions for the schools
Of the country and the whole cuntry, 10 be
held in connection and general recprocation
with each other furnish opportunite" IN exist.
ence or in prospect for difasing the light Of
practical science TO all, and thus 10 render all