The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09
DEMOCRACY OF sCIENCE-NO. q.
By JOSIAH HOLBROOK.

The Office of mother is OF divine appointment.
Above all Others, it is holy Office. In it is in
volved tho destiny of nations AT the family
board the mother il the presiding spirit. In
the domestic circle she is the controlling angel.
At the table she disponses food for the body,
and food for the soul BY her, domestic, fire.
| side, table education may control schools,
churches legislatures, courts of justice, bust
moss, social intercourse, religion, morals, man.
nors--everything. By her the domestic circle
may be rendered the most attractive spot upon
the globe to the young spirits under her con-
trol-and that by training them up in the
way they should go" The most allurng at
fractions are in the richest instructions. The
only instruction capable of alluring and re-
tanning young spirits ut their own domestic
fresides, is tho knowledge which comes down
from God The world presents sad failure,
in attempts at training up children in the way
they should 60 by the devices of men. They
do not they cannot, dispense the true light Of
the soul. The only true light is that which
comes down from God.
Lord Brougham once remarked: If We
should be deprived of what we learn in the
| three first years of life, we should DO the most
ignorant beings on the face of tho globe" A
similar sentiment is almost universal. Why is
| it sol is the great question. The answer s
| plain. Our "FIRsT LESSONS are almost ei
| clusively from the 3" OLDER VOLUME OF GoDn
School lessons are from the feeble, dark devices
of men, shutting out the true light which comes
down from God Mothers is it not 500 Fathers,
| is it not 30 Teachers is it not so Christian
minister's is it not 80! Legislators, judges, ia it
not sot II 30 is it right Ia it wise. Is it not
| fraught with evil fan evil stbere no remedy ?
Is not the remedy plain! May it not be applied
at once. IsnOt the remedy equally delicious and
cffootual' Is il not in a fullsupply, for young.
unaduterated spirits of food expressly and
abundantly provided for them by their all-wise
and benevolent Creator?
In view Of these questions, u hint or two de-
signed for parents, especially mothers, may not
be here entirely out Of place In this country,
at this particular time-thc approach of win
TER EvENINCs'-no one provision, perhaps,
more strongly comnends itself as a remedy for
numerous evils which threaten us, than "FIRr-
SIDE ADJUSTMENTS" Facts equally prove that
such amusements may he rendered more allu-
ring than any to be found in tho streets and
that the most instructive are the most attract
i've. Every one must know that such allurng
instruction cannot be found in mere book les
sons. knowing, producing, reciprocating, in
thor JOINT action, are essential judiciously
conducted, eifectual and certain. Slightly en-
couraged and aided by parents sprightly
minds and active hands open for themselves
resources of knowledge and employment, both
delightful and instructive. One such recource
may be named--"rAMILy MUsEuMs' or col
ections Of natural and artificial curiosities
Does any one believe that such useful and in
structive household utensils would not be pro-
vided in every one of the six millions of Amer
can families, whore the younger members were
encouraged by their parents, especially their
mothers Thousands upon thousands OF such
collections already have good beginning
These can be easily extended, aud used for in
creasng thousands TO millions, each aiding and
receiving aid from all the rest
From the very nature Of such collections
they illustrate the elements Of tho two great
pursuits ofhuman beings-TARMIsG AND MECH
ANisM. Minerals show the elements of soils.
Drawing an endless source Of amusement and
instruction 10 the young, is a species Of mech
anisin The best Of all exercises in draw
ing, is "a delineation Of mathematical solids
the cube, cone, cylinder, prisms, and great
variety OF figures just such rs would heartily
enlist all young minds and hands in producing