Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-06-08
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
Ths Democracy OF soienos.-No. III.
BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.

The abundant element and powerful agent al
ready referred to is called oxygen. Combined
with nitrogen it forms air; with hydrogen, water;
with hydrogen and carbon, vegetables; with hy-
drogen, carbon, and nitrogen, animal matter
with the metals it forms ores, rocks, and SOILS.
Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and the
metals are the Alphabet of Nature" This al
phabet is so simple that little child might learn
It a hundred times while he could learn the al
phabet of books once. 1t is SO delightful as to
be sought for and used by every young mind as
the richest of all amusements. 1t is 80 bound
less in extent SO infinite in its combinations, so
illimitable in its uses, so transcendant and glo-
rious in its beauty and majesty, as to put at de-
fiance and render hopeless any attempt at a full
comprehension of it by the most powerful intel
lect in any created being, The expansion and
vastness Of created things so entirely outstrip
their exploration and development as to present
an ample and rich field of labor and of progress
for all hands, intelects, and souls, constantly en-
gagged to their utmost capacity, for century to
come, and then leave untouched the greater part
Of the wonders of this wonderful world The
projections and the glory of the Creator, and the
elevation, dignity, and happiness of his MORAL
CREATION, will then only be seen by some slight
glimpses of what they may be.
The same great Creator and Architect of this
vast universe, who formed the heavens and the
earth of a few simple elements, also placed in the
human soul an eager and Unsuitable desire to
know and to use these elements in accordance
with the designs of the Author, both of inanimate
things and of the living and deathess soul. To
check these desires is at once to do violence to
the very nature of our being and to Illustrate the
great and holy purposes of Him who made all
things every GOOD"
The true democracy Of science is to render
knowledge of the elements and uses of created
things as widespread as the things themselves;
at least coextensive with human existence Per
hitting and aiding young spirits to act in ODE
dience to those eager desires, those reaching and
lofty aspirations so deeply implanted by boun-
tiful Creator, would render familiar and extern
sive their acquaintance with the different depart
ments of the vast storehouse Of riches given to
them to keep and to USE
Who can doubt that if the elements of created
things, with their endless combinations, their IL
limitable uses, and their surprising beauty, rich
ness, and glory, were made the subjects and OBJ
jects of early instruction, language to express
them, both spoken and written, would come of
course 1t could hardly be avoided IF it were
not provided otherwise, it would be created as it
should be needed. Language always is created
as occasions call for it, both by children of a
larger and of smaller growth. Hence this endless
prating of unmeaning phrases from books .sto
learn TO read" is not only useless, but does yio-
lence to the very nature of the human soul, and
often defeats and perverts the glorious purposes
of God-changes His very best works into the
very worst.