The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-09
Democracy OF Science NO. 8.
by JOSIAH HoLBRooR.

The straight line, eqailateral triangle square, and c
Gle, the alphabet of mechanism Male, combined,
divided applied and carried to their full extent they
embrace the architecture OF the heavens and OF the earth,
OF the Creator, Of human beings. Birds insects and my
RAIDS OF animated things loo small for human vision
The elements OF mechanism are not only wide
spread the universe OF matter, but they used by
every human being in every motion and every during
his whole life The eating OF our food is mechanical
act exhibiting great diversity Of skill in different iRd
viduals.
As the elements OF mechanism spread the &C.
tire universe and in constant by every human beng,
and myriads OF beings not human, The Democracy Ct
Science requires that knowledge OF these elements
should be universally dfuscd. By the infinite wisdom
and boundess goodness Of the Creator these elements
like the elements Of all practical science are above every
thing ese fitted to employ young hands, interest young
minds and ennobe young hearts. The alphabet, the
combination and the application OF form, OF mechanism
are hence among the very first lessons" TO be pro-
vided for the young, whether school at home By
slate and pencil for their instruments, and few sim
pie figures for their COPIES the youngest pupils become
. self.ins,ru:ors" in acquiring the elements Of all
knowledge.
As they advance 10 knowledge and skill every step of
progress becomes easier, stronger, delightful than
the one preceding it, This whole subject is strongly and
beautifully exhibited 10 Baron Cuyier, whose discoveries
formed new era in the history Of science While en-
gagel 10 his researches and wonderful developments
oil the perfection, symmetry and harmony OF all created
things he often referred with peculiar satisfaction TO the
circumstances that when very little boy his mother en-
couraged him in drawing (MEcHAsss) and the study oil
objects around him To this single circumstances the
whole world is doubtless indebted for OF the most
striking exhibitions OF the glorious and unlsihomable pei
fecons OF Him who weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills 10 balance"
Juvenile products of mechanism furnish good perhaps
the very best materials for recprocaion between pupil
and pupil family and family school and school, city and
city country and county. Sach recprocatons have al
ready done much for the democracy of science. lev
days since more than thousand pieces Of mechanism
were received 10 Washington from the schools OF New
York be distributed by members OF Congress and foreign
ministers to various parts OF this country, and to some
parts OF other Countries From The same schools through
similar mediums, many thousand specimens have been
distributed within few years past In return, many
beautiful specimens Of juvenile skill have been sent from
the young hands and generous hearts in our national
metropolis to kindred spirits in the Empire City. Tbs
plan OF production and ecprocaon, aided by the public
press and public funclonares, enlisted both oy
pleasure and obligation, for advancing the work, most
surely tends, not to the consolidation but diffusion o.
knowledge; not TO the dcspotism but democracy Of SCI
ence, of wealth, OF government, OF religion, Of all human
blessings