The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-11

The stsaieht lines ~qailaseral td.aele, sqnsrs,
ID Circle are the -ALRHA1Er or MEcaxsI NJ
Made, combined, divided, applied. and carried
out TO thu II full extent. they embrace the archi
lecture OF The heavens and Of the earth. If the
Creator, Of human beings, birds, iasscts. and
myriads Of animated things too small for hu.
man vision.
The elements of mechanism are not only a
widespread the universe of matter. but fhev
are used by every humsn being in everv motion
and evrey ACT during his whole Iifs The cut
ting of eur food is me hsnical act exhibiting
great diversity of skill in fer-nt individuals.
As the elements OF mechanism are spread
over the entire universe, and in constant use bv
every human being, and myri,d- Of beings not
human, THE DEMOCRACY sF Science" =. qaires
that knowledge of these elements should be
universally diffused BY the infinite wisdom
and boundiess goodness Of the Creator these
elements, like the elements of all practical sci-
ence, are, above every thing sIse, fitted to en-
ploy young hands, interest young minds. and
ennoble young hearts. The alphabet. tho com.
binarion, and the application Of form. of mo.
chan~m, are hence among the very "riRsr Les
Sons" TO be provided fur the young. whether at
chool or at home. BY slate and pencil for
their instruments, and few simple figures for
their copies, the youngest pupils become 1sELr
IN TRUcroRs" in acquiring the elements Of all
knowledge.
AS they advance in knowledge and skill
every step of progress becomes easier stronger
more delightful than The one preceding II. This
whole tu'j jet is strongly and beautifully ex-
hibited in b ron Cuvier, whose discoveries
formed u new era in the history Of science.
While engaged in his vast researches and won
derful Developments of the perfection, svmmet.
~. and harmony of all created thiags, he often
referred with peculiar satisfaction to the cir.
cumstance that when very little boy his
mother encouraged him in drawing (biEcHAx.
End and the study Of objects around him. To
this single circumstance the whole world il
doubtless indebted for some of the most strik.
ing exhibitions Of the glorious and unfathonla-
BILE projections OF Him who"weighed the noun
tans in scales and the hills in balance"
Juvenile products of mechanism furnish
good, perhaps the very best, materials for reci,-
rocation between pupil and pupil, family and
family. school and school, city and city, county
and country. Snch 'eciprocations have already
done much for the Democracy Of science. A
few days since more than thousand pieces Of
mechanism Were recev. d in Washington from
the schools Of New York 10 be distributed by
members of Congress and foreign ministers 10
various parts OF this country, and to some parts
of other countries. From the same schools.
through similar mediums, many thousand spe.
cimens have been distributed within few years
past. la return, many beautiful specimens Of
juvenile skill have been sent from the yourp
hands and generous hearts in our National Me.
tropolis TO kindred spirits in the Empire CITY.
This plan of production and reciproca,ion, aided
by the public press and public functionaries,
now enlisted b It'll by pleasure and obligation,
for advancing the work, most surely tends, not
to the consolidation but diffusion of KNOWLEDGE !:
not to the despo:sm but Democracy of science,
of wealth. of government, Of religion, of all hu.
man blessings