Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-27
TIE MECHANICS sHo !.


There are very many persons even in
tnis active, buslness-like nation who would
deem It terrible hardship to be compel
Ied to earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow. IN the various mechanical EN-
Ployments by which so large portion of
the fnakee nation maintain themselves
and families. Of course this is free
country where every one can generally
md employment suited to his taste, and
L Is well for all that all have not taste
FOR labor in the mechanic arts.
But to our thinking. there is no class of
men on this planet who enjoy a larger
amount of rational happiness, than the
mechanics of these United States, and
particularly, the artizanS of New England
They enjoy favorable opportunities of
mental improvement and culture, and
hence they are intelligent and well infor-
med. We frequently see men transla ed
from mechanics shops to Legislative halls
Some of the most illustrious names in our
coun'ry's annals, belong to mechanics,
while from the families OF our industrious
intelligent artizans. men are springiny in
10 the learned professions, and into all the
nigh places of the land.
Some may reply that nature bes.ows
her quits promIscuously among all classes
and 1t is nothing in favor of any class. hat
men OF genius spring from it into high
places, as 1t Is but poor compliment to
any tract OF country to say that g it Is
favorable country to emigrate from" that
genius will find its way to position above
the level of surrounding minds, as the tall
oak lifts itself INTO the sunlight and storm
by the inherent energies of its growth
This IS true, but the ideas. we set out to
advance are, that mechanical employ
ments afford more favorable opportunities
icr mental improvement and intellectual
enjoyment than any other kinds of manu-
al labor. Therefore it is, that we see SO
manv giant iuteIects springing from the
mechanics shops, and therefore i! is, that
that those shops are the scenes of SO much
real happiness
The !abors of the tiller of the soil are
SO cxhausting, that when his daily task is
done, he must retire almost Immediately
TO rest. His physical energies are gone
when his days work is finished, and he
feels no inclination for study or reading,
even if he has the leisure. But the ma
iority of the mechanical trades tax the
bodily powers less, and leaves the mind
IN II condition, if the person has taste
for reading, to revel in Il book or news
paper. During the houts of labor, too,
the mind can digest the aliment received
from books, and Tic appetite is whetted
for more.
The mechanic. in prosperous times, is
AS independent as a king. He works du-
ring his stated hours, and chooses his
amusements, VIII CHI he relishes with a
greater zcst than the lazy dronc who spends
mis- whole day in vainly attempting to be
amused, but is dying by inches of ennui.
There Is even more amusement enjoyed
constantly i'll many of our large establish
mcuts, where numbers are employed,
than the professional pleasure seeker can
tind by the most interchangeable research.
4 large mechanical establishment is IA lit
tie world within itself. and it is ge enerally
VERY funny world" or at least a mer-
ry one. In it you frequently find jour
MEN who have grown grey in the employ
ment of the same hrm, You will find the
acknowledged wag, who is licensed to
crack jokes upon the heads of all the COM
panv. You shall hear in the course OF
each day, witticisms and rappartees with
out number, which would do credit to
Punch. There is generally some awk-
ward fellow who is the butt of a thousand
practical Jokes. There is the oracular
philosopher. who considers himself. from
long experience and observation. compe-
tent to predict what course the employer
will pursue in any event. There is the
sober minded and religiously inclined old
man, who lectures the young apprentices
upon their follies and levities. There are
the political debaters, who discuss warm.
~ and ably, each prominent political to-
pic OF the day. each with his adherents
who applaud, and sustain, and cheer him
on.
In short, almost every phase of human
character is represented in the large me
chanical establishment. and the hours o
labor fly along ss merrily as in any spo
in the world. The mechanics of Ameri
ca are as happy and intelligent as any il
the world.