The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-15
BY JOSIAH HoLBaoog.

| Industrial exhibitions are powerful agencies
! for the diffusion of knowledge. By them, farm
ers and mechanics have done much to promote
their interests They are becoming not merely
a part but the soul Of school system. In New
York "ScHoLARs' FAIRS" are held twice year
| At some of these exhibitions more than half Of
the States in the Union have been represented
by specimens of penmanshp drawings, needle
work, mechanism, minerals, plants, shells, OF
other productions of nature and of art
| After exhibition comes distribution. School
products from young hands and generous hearts
| in the Empire city have been sent to all nations
A professor from the Glasgow University, on
receiving several hundred specimens, remarked
81 never saw anything so beautiful; shall dis
tribute them through Scotland" Great numbers
have been sent abroad by foreign ministers, con-
,uls and other government functionaries OF
different nations A Senator of the United
States has proposed a provision under our gov.
eminent for collecting, by consuls and other
functonares abroad, information, by specimens
and otherwise, of practical science especially
such as relates to the interests OF farmers and
mechanics. The provision only needs to be
made to have the object accomplished "a great
object.
BY members of Congress, judges, school
superintendents, teachers, scientific conventions
and other agencies, specimens of juvenile skill
| from the New York schools have been sown
broadcast over our entire country. A few days
since several beautiful drawings were received
from that source, prepared expressly for the
| President of the United States among them a
| head of Washington with exquisite finish.
| These specimens from the Empire city have put
in train some from our national city for the same
object By great law of mind those who radi
| ate most light are themselves most enlightened
Hence the New York schools stand highest in
their own character, BECAUSE they have done
most to raise the character of others.
Works of nature and of art used for inter
changes, have led to " Worlds Fair, and
must lead to " Fairs" all ovsr the world. Indus.
trial exhibitions and SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGES y
are rapidly maturing into system-THE GREAT
SYSTEM, not for the consolidation of impractical.
Bile theories and deceptive speculations, but the
diffusion Of productive science. In most of the
States commissioners, superintendents, or other
school officers, are provided by Legislative enact
nents for counties In some States these officers
are required to hold meetings" CONVENTIONS
OF SCHooL,"-in all their townships, precincts,
election districts, or other civil divisions in their
respective counties. Such conventions are at
least the beginnings Of industrial exhibitions-of
course, scientific exchanges. When matured in
each State, and assimilated by enlightened gen.
erous reciprocaions in all States and countries,
the result will be an animating and invigorating
advancement, if not a glorious triumph, of the
"DEMacRAcY OF science" ....
In the progress of this great enterprise of
"SCIENcE, WEALTH, and MORALS" four facts
are worthy of special regard: Younger men,
bers OF schools and families are more hearty in
it than the older; the reputed worst scholars
are changed idto the best; the more elementary
and far preaching the principle, the more eager
the mind and hand to illustrate it-a key un.
locking million of rooms is more eagerly
sought or than one opening a nundred those
who give most receive most--a liberal hand
maketh rich.