The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-08-04

By JOSIAH Hol BROOK.

The elements of science are purely
democratic They are in all places at
all times, and obedient to their own laws,
never swerviug an iota. Each renders
aid to all the rest-together making
perfect and glorious whole.
One Of the elements constitutes about
half of our globe--the animal vegetable
and mineral kingdoms. This most a
bundant element is also the most power
full agent in the workings of science. 1t
is in all and for all created things, or
nearly so. 1t heaves our lungs lights
and fans our fires decks our forests
and all creation with their beautiful hues;
shivers mountains into rocks and crum-
bles rocks into soils; converts soils into
the majesty Of forest, the vcrdure Of
plain, and the richness of a garden; chan
yes the products of forests, plains and
gardens into beasts of the field, birds of
the air, fishes of the sea, buzzing insects
and all creeping things with the whole
of animate nature, embracing the lords
of this lower creation, having dominion
over the whole.
This same element and agent in our
vast creation assimilatcs things the most
diversified and opposite, and again sepa-
rates into atoms things assimilated by
the most intimate and perfect union. 1t
is constantly performing services the
most dissimilar and opposite in charac-
ter, and yet always in perfect harmony,
completely carrying out the great design
of the Creator of all In most Of the
wonder workings of this wonderful world,
this one agent is always present and al
ways active, but can only get with and
for all kindred agents, however diversi6-
ed their Offices or dssimilar their work.
It yields strict obedience to its own laws,
and yet is dependent upon the same obe-
dence from all the rest, III their rcspec-
tive agencies. for accomplishing the grand
work Of this created universe. If such
is abundance Of one element, and such
the power of one agent and both one
aud the same, who can doubt but the
knowledge Of it should be as wide spread
as the existence Of its power.
How strange, then, how mysterious
that those protesting to mould pliable
young beings by the elements Of science
so wisely designated for them by the
Author both of the beings and the sci
encc. should have them in charge month
after month and year after year and not
once exhibit to them the most abundant
element, or even name one Office Of this
most powerful agent The mystery is
more mysterious when it is known, a
every one must know, by the avdity witt
{ which every young spirit drinks in sucl
knowledge, that the highest possible de
light is added to the richest and most
enduring instruction, by supply to theil
bodies, minds and souls of food so evi
dently and so abuudantly provided fol
them.
J But thanks to science and to humani
, ty that Il mighty change is coming owe
! our country and the world in the kinC
, of knowledge taught and the modes o
teaching it. Instruction is in rapi,
transition from words to things, from
signs of ideas to ideas themselves; iron
the shadow to the substance from say
ing to doing; from speculation to pro
duction from consolidation to diffusion
from few to the whole
: Notc.-The name of the element an'
4 agent presented above is deferred to
5 future occasion, that teachers may hav
e the privilege of first presenting it t
their pupils, and parents to their chi
drcn