The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-19
DEMOCRACY OF scIENCE.-No. I.
BY JOSIAH HoLBRoOK.

Elective affinity is the "GRAND Pryor. of
chemists. On it turn most of the wonder work
ngs of their wonderful science. prc-eminently
Efficient IN the advancement of knowledge and
OF wealth BY it things entirely opposite are
brought into perfect union, and those entire.
y and intimately assmilated, rendered distinct
and opposite. COlors are formed, destroyed,
and varied by thousands of different hues.
Metals acids, salts, and most articles in daily
use IN the mechanic arts and domestic ecOno-
my are combined, divided, varied modified,
and applied to the endless variety and constant
ly varying purposes of civilization and of pro-
gress principally by elective afinity-the pref
erences of bodies for each other The farmer
more than any other person has constant oc-
caslon for a familiar acquaintance with all the
turnlngs, all the workings, all the changes, and
all the products of the chemists pivot
With the parent teacher, statesman, and
Christian, mental ELECTIVE AFFINITY is
as much more important than the chemists
| pivot, as mind Is more important than matter
the immortal soul more enduring than the per-
| ishing body. Prevention better than cure,
overcoming evil with good, preventing crime
better than Furnishing criminals. love worketh
no Ill to his neighbor and feeding an enemy
are phrases recognising mental elective affinity
prominently the "TEAcHER's PIvor.n and
most of all teachers, the parent
This affinity judciously and skilfully appl
ed has changed thousands of the very worst
scholars into the very best, and could hardly
fail OF preventing the best from becoming the
worst; fact certainly familiar to every parent
and TO every teacher. A spirit 80 turbulent
that no chain can haNd it, when properly d.
rected in an appropriate useful field OF action
is the most powerful agent of improvement
and OF progress. The great army of houseburn
ers, now giving our country such fearful
notorlety, If an opportunity should be offered
would use still greater energy in building uT
than they now do in destroying houses and vii
lagos. Productive or destructive employment
is instinctiyely sought for, and will be had by
every hand and mind, having energy sufficient
for any useful purpose. Such employment j,
exactly what is most studiously and vigorously
avoided, forbidden by thousands of teachers and
tens of thousands of parents. Saying A and
B, and sitting ON bench" the graphic descrip.
ton of school exercises by little girl who
knew, do not provide employment sufficiently
productive, nor an object sufficiently elevated
mot highly sublime) for active and aspiring
spirits; they are hence led, compelled to seek
employment either for production or destruc-
ton, and unfortunately for themselves, their
neghbors, and the country, too often the lat
ter; not highly encouraging for Democracy
especially the "-DFNnCRAcY OF SCIENCE
As acting is better than specializing, def
mite action IL proposed, grounded on menta
elective aihnty-smply for parents and teach
er to follow the example of the mother of tin
illustrious Cuvier, encouraging their children
and pupils in sketching collecting, studying
and approprating to their own use letters
lines, and leaves from the COLDER VOLUME OF
| Con-