The southern press., 1851-08-27
Far the Southern Press.
MECHAAISM---N0. XyII.-By Josiah HOibroOk.


The grand pivot on which must turn the
whole machinery for ehecting the purposes of
science, wealth, and morals, "sELF-IKsTRUc-
TIoN." The motto Nature before book and
draioing before ioriiing," constantly acted upon.
would do much to secure such instruction, to
fix such ivot. The sentiment has been that
books were the first, the principal, and almost
the only instruments to fit young beings for
their future vocations. Ii is not so now.
Other sentiments, which will bear the test OF
common sense al of universal experience, have
taken the place of that, equally preposterous
and mischievous, running thousands upon
thousands Of the very best minds ever created
In German schools rectations on most SUBJ
jecls are conducted without any use OF book,
either by the pupil or teacher. That is as it
should be. In some-perhaps all-of the nor
nal schools in this country it is now a funda-
mental principle that, before the pupils are
qualified to teach, they must be able to conduct
recitations without the use OF books. In
an address by Daniel Webster, given some,
months since at an agricultural fair, he remarked,
gall the knowledge we get from books is very
little, and that little not worth much" Az aids
of knowledge, books are good; ms the principal
sources of dependence, they are false, and sadly
disastrous.
The moment the eye, the hand, and the heart
generally take the place Of books, as the prin-
cipal agents of instruction, truants will never
be heard Of; rowdies, who are only truants
having taken several degree in advance, will
soon be out Of market; on houses OF refuge for
juvenile delinquents may be written "To LET !"
and the place upon our court dockets for
Michigan cohspirators" will be left black.
No subjects for placing upon this "grand
pivot" for securing the agency of the eye, hand,
and heart. are more appropriate than the First
principles" of farming and mechanism. To col
lect and arrange specimens OF geology, showing
the elements ofsoils to prepare and perform
chemical experiments, showing the nature of
those elements; to make and combine the ee-.
mentary figures. or forms of mechanism, show
ing the endless varieties of beauty and utility,
furnish to active, sprightly, generous young
spirits the objects of their eager pursuit, sources
of rich and greatly varied instruction, employ
ment for their active minds, objects for their
lofty aspirngs They bring into action in aid
Of each other the eye, hund, and heart-muscle,
mind, and soul.
The process is as simple, direct, easy, and
certain as the operations are delightful, and the
fruits rich and abundant. /. can be commenced
any day or moment in any school or family in
the whole world, when the parent or teacher
wishes to have it so. Let any teacher say to his
pupils, "Children, YOU may go out and see how
many different kinds OF stone you can find, and
bring in one of each kind" and CABINET OF
| AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY" will be well CON-
menced. The names, properties, and uses of
| these beginnings with others coming in their
| train, will be certain soon to follow-not GER
| tain how, but certain to come in some way.
Let the same teacher, or any teacher or parent,
say to the young spirits under his guidance
| You may draw upon your states or cut from
paper figure with three equal sides, being care
ful that the sides are all exactly equal: that done,
the most important element in the mechanism
Of the universe-rich beautiful and glorious
is actually formed by the hands of a company OF
animated "sELF.INsTRUcToEs." The next step
and all steps which may follow, in endless pro.
gression, in the delightful employment in the
rich instruction, under the inspiring motive oi
unfolding the glorious works Of God, so glori.
ousy and wonderfully exhibited in the mechan.
ism of the heavens and of the earth will be
equally simple with the first. A better sugges.
ton on this great and Interesting subject, per-
haps, cannot be made than for all schools, or
their next opening, to try the experiment in the
first lessons as proposed on agriculture and
mechanism.
l. EXPERIMENT A teacher in New York had
pupil who defied the authority both Of the pa
rent and himself, in requiring the various ordi
nary lessons from books. AT the suggestion
and persuasion of the teacher, the parent en-
couraged his son in collecting for their home
the rebel son and pupil became the delight o
the family and the ornament OF the school.
| DECISIVE BATTIFs-The decisive battles q