Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-06-24
Democracy of Science.
BY JOSIAH HoLBROoK.
No. 2.

Y
The elements Of science are purely demo.
cratic. They are in -,rff places at all times,
and obedient TO their own laws, never swerv-
ng an ioa. Each renders MD to all the rest
together making perfect and glorious
whole.
One of these elements constitutes about
half Of our globe the animal, vegetable, and
mineral kingdoms. This most abundant
element is also The most powerful agent in
the workings Of science. Ii 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 brauii-
iul liues silvers mountains into rocks, and
crumbIes rocks into soils converts soils into
the majesty ofa forest, the verdnre of plain,
and the richness OF gur,len; changes the
products of forests, paIos and gardens into
beasts OF the field, birds of the aIr, fishes of
the sea, buzzlng insects, aud all creeping
things; with The Whole of animate nature,
embracing The lords of the lower creation,
having dominion over the whole.
This same element and agent in our vast
creation ussImllates Things the most diversi-
fled and opposite, and again separates into
atoms things asslmaled by The most ini.
maze and perfect union. 1t is constantly
pertUrmins services the most dissmlar and
opposite IN character, and YET always in per-
tecl harmony, completely carrying out the
great desIgus Of the Creator of all. In most
OF the wonder workings of this wonderful!
world, this one agent is always present., and
always active, but can only act with and for
all Kindred ageuts, however diversified their
offices or dissimlar their work. 1t Yields
strict obedience TO its own laws, and yet is
dependent upon the same obedience from all
the rest, in their respective agencies, for ac-
compllshing the grand work of this created
universe. If such is the abundance of one
element, and such the power of one agt nj,
and both one and the same, who can doubt
but the knowledge iit should be as wide
spread as lis existence or lis power?
How strange, then, how mysterious, that
ihUse protesting 10 mould pliable young be-
Ings by the elements Of science, so wisely
designed for them by The Author, both of
the beings and the science, 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, as every
one must know, by the avidiiy with which
every young spirit drinks in such knowledge,
that The highest possible delight is added TO
tine richest and most enduring Instruction.
10y supply To their bodies, minds. aud souls,
OF food so evidently and so abundantly pro-
vitled for them.
But thanks be 10 science and 10 humanity,
that mighty change is coming over our
country and the world in the kind of knowl.
edge taught, and the modes of teaching IT,
Instruction is in rapid transition from
words 10 things, from sgus of ideas 10 ideas
themselves from shadow to substance
from saying TO doing; from speculation to
production from consolidation TO diffusion J;
from lew 10 he whole.
NoTE. The name of the element and
agent presented above is deferred TO n future
occasion, that teachers may have the privi-
ege OF first presenting it 10 their pupils, and
parents 10 their children.