The southern press., 1851-04-01

skill, but chiefly to the improvements which
have taken nlace In the social economy. Fos-
merly The want Of drainage and ventilation
caused \ xsxi4ty af plagaes and infectious d..
eases, Mhieb;eWept off crowds Of human beings
every day. uHtil there were but few LETT FOR
these dsatruetiye scourges to expend their force
upon.
Nor win the improved longevity Of civilized
mankind, no adds, rest here; for even yet, in the
means Of preserving the health OF the masses
most nations are deficient. lie instances tho
fact that in Paris there are no provisions for the
free egress Of refuse substances masses are
allowed to collect and purify in the atreets, inn
ls2regnating the air with miasma and consump-
tion. Other cities are also noticed where such
evils are allowed to exist. When these are OBJ
or rather when the world shall have been
drained Of it's deadly swamps, and cities purified
isom the filth which is generally allowed to ac-
cumulate in them--when houses are properly
cleansed and ventilated, and nxxa have learned
to take proper care of themsckxsSA human life
will be greatly prolonged, and nature will be
left to do the work of decay in her own slow
and benevolent manner, by the hardening of the
organs, and the gradual but painless cessation
of her functions
| SCIENCE, WEALTH AND MokALs.---The un-
ders'gned very respectfully invite public atten-
ton to two great objects Of individual and gen.
era! prosperty--the development OF the natural
resources of our country, and the promotion Of
practical science. TO large extent these two
objects are one and the same, as knowledge
of the natural resources of industry and Of
wealth is -emnenily practical science. The
more this knowledge becomes individual, max
ing every farmer acquainted with the character
and capabilities of his own fields, and all classes
familiar with the natural wealth Immediately
surrounding them, the more thoroughly will it
be promoted, the more widely diffused.
| The most direct--perhaps the only--mode of
securing effectually these two objects, combined
in one, is by making practical science subject
OF primary instruction in schools, especially
aided by the reciprocating efforts of families
Such step, at once simple and direct, is rem
dered vigorous and effective by the eagerness
with which children pursue, and the rapidty
with which they acquire, knowledge of natural
objects, so richly scattered around them by the
hand of their Creator. Thus occupied, inter-
estet, and instructed, they nre most etfectually
draw from objects and pursuits leading to dis
order, lawlessness, and violence, now but too
manifest in all parts Of the country. threatening,
if unchecked, the perpetuity Of our republican
institutions.
As the two leading objects of human pursuit
are agriculture and mechanism, it is q selfevi-
dent truth that institutions especially designed
to fit those entering upon the stage Of action
for their future vocations should each primarily
s4sl thoroughly subjects connected with those
pursuits that schools teach prominently and
igorously-subjects and modes Fundamental
in the success Of the farmer and mechanic.
The sciences especially embracing agriculture
and mechanism are geology, chemistry, and
geometry, to be taught practically and expert
lily.
The unparalleled progress made in these sci
ences, especially the first, within few years
past, renders their future advancement easy, GER
tain, and rapid, directly applied to the daily pur-
suits of all classes The developments and pre-
sentations made of these subjects by Mr. Josiah
Holbrook, and the results Of his past efforts in
aiding their advancement render it proper that
special attention be directed to the plans and
measures now proposed by him for their con-
tinued progress and still wider diffusion.
Such being the plain dictates of common
sense, suggested by the progress Of ourcountry
and the spirit of the age, the undersigned invite
to them the attention of all interested in human
progress, and especially the public functionaries
whose official duty and highest pleasure must
alike induce them to give the whole subject their
prompt efforts and hearty recprocations. We
only add that we consider the plans and propo-
sails of Mr.. Holbrook, as shown above, of great
value and entitled to the favorable consideration
of tho nnh1ic