Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-03-12
Man a Machine.
BY A CYN1C.

Man is machine. The true definition of the
''quintessence of dust is not to be found in the
dictionary. In order to investigate his real char
acter, mechanics and mechanism should be studied.
Sometimes man is called vessel Is it because
he sails down the stream of time, navigating the
water of life and carrying his soul freight from
time to eternity? The wind frequently propels
him, and he is turned about as EASILY as a weather
cock whenever it listeth. These IDEAS however,
originated with the old maginers, and are, there
fore, to be received with the utmost caution, and
carefully busted of all absurdtes.
Life is the handspring of action, and the mo-
ment man is born, the machinery is set in motion,
and its operation does not cease until he has Jun
down, is out of repair; then being unfit for any
other purpose, it is taken apart and shelved. An
infant is a model, or machine of small order; time
and circumstances manufacture him into one of
great power and ability, for full grown man is a
perfect work. An infant, in its way, shows the
effect of its operation, but it requires the efforts of
the principal to carry out the most extensive plans.
Machines are continually wearing out, decaying,
wanting repair, growing old, and often found use
less. After the same manner, man decays and
wears out; therefore, and exclusively, it appears
that man must be allied to machinery. This point
being settled, the next inquiry is, what kind of a
machine is man Does he belong to the steam
boat order? He cannot be a steamboat for that
goes on the waters; besides it moves horizontally;
man moves uprghtly, and only upon the face oil
the earth. It is true that he occasionally emits
fire and smoke, and so do steamboats,; but there
is vast difference in the smoke and the occasion
of it. It appears then, that he is not steam
boat though the boat and the man may be near
blood cousns, or brothers, the sailor and the
other landsman. Is man a locomotive ? A
great writer has said he is; whether it is because
L i. r Il.
of life, or whether it is on account of his rapdty
and usefulness, is the dispute. For my part, de
liver me from such comparison, for locomotive
cannot be managed unless the track be well laid
Man goes without it, and is the only kind of ma
chine that operates well every where. It's plain
then, that man is not a locomotive. Is he wind
mill or weather-cock? No. They only operate
when the wind blows.
Look at a man as he walks. What singular
motion for 'the paragon of animals" He ap
pears to kick and claw the air, that it may max,
way for the king of all below heaven. / wonde
why the earth don't sink under so sublime crea
ture. Perfection on legs-who, but for reason
would be little more than an automaton, and, wheI
reason is misused is not much superior. Is man
machine? Do you End patent for him at Wash
ington or elsewhere ? He is either not an inven
ton, or is he not worth patenting. Now, it ma.
possibly be an internal machine, that does mucl
injury-a strong exterior within a grating. coars'
and unoled machinery fit only for destruction anc
those doomed to it. Hear him discourse. VIVA
iargon it is, without any melody have hearc
as good language from sawniii, and better iron
parrots. Now, whether parrots initiate man. or h
initiates parrots, is question. That he talks i
certain; but how does he manufacture his words
Maelzel's automaton prated by machinery. VII,
may not Maelzel himself have talked in the sam
way? Why is it not possible that he may hav
adopted his own workmanship 10 the figure
A watch may be made to discourse music.