Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-12-06
the MECHANIC.


II the digoisy Of thiDgs may BE- seas.
ursd BY their iopostssos 70 oankisd,
sbere 70 nothing, psehePe. which can
rsok shove the nsshaaie ssss. 10 eeet,
they may bs called the lever. the ful'
crum end the power which moves tbs
world. They do no. want the "~hsrs,
upon to sssnd," - did Archimedes; they
hsvs sufficient foundation in thsmsel-
ves.
What gives to civilized nations their
superiority over the savAesf Il IL chief
" mechanic arts. By them the hesuti-
fol and convenient mansion is substitu.
ted for the rude and uncomfortable hut;
and .'purple sod fine linen" supply the
wardrobe in place Of the skins Of Wild
animals. They sre the foundation OF
nearly al the improvements snd CON-
forte Of life, and further We NAV cay,
Of the glory and grandeur OF the world.
By them the farmer ploughs the isnd,
and by them tho mariner plouebs tue
ocean-the monarch 10 adorned vith bis |,
crown, and the peasant 10 clad 10 com.
Portable garments; BY them the rium-
phsl arch 10 raised 20 the hero, and the
temple sscends to the Diety; BY them the
table 10 spread, the bed 10 decked, and
the psrlor furnished. To them the poet
owes the perpstuation OF bic fame. Ho.
mer SINCE, and Caesar triumphs, ~ oil
ages. Through them We are instructed
by the wisdom Of Plato, and charmed
By the eIoquence Of Cicero. Through
them We admire the justice OF Atistides,
and toe hsroism OF Lsonidss.
And much Of this is owing to the s'n-
gle arts-thst Of printing and the manu-
fscture of paper. By she former, learn
ing has been rescued from the gloom Of
the dark ages; but, without the latter, the
benefit OF printing would be circumsori-
bed 10 very narrow bounds. 1t 10 by
means Of the pr' 80, chiefly, that 90 much
Of c hristenlom owes it's escape from the
thraldom of Superstition.
/ But, in spesking Of the dignity OF the
mechanic arts, We would not conhne
them to the mere hand that executes,
without thinking OF the head that plans
for, without the latter. hut little more
credit would be due to the person who
/ exercises these arts, Ihsn to an automa-
ton. To produce the great effects We
have mentioned above TO do 60 much
TO enlishten, to besutify, and improve
the world-to labor for the glory and
happiness Of others-snd vet be ignor-
ant Of the springs by which the impor.
tant movements are carried on, would
i'll compor, with the dignity Of the me-
chanic. lie would be-if We may com.
pare email things with great-warmth
and comfort to mankind, without aim
self being conscious thereof.
There is philan,hrophy in the mechan
ic arts. The mechanic who brings to
his occupation sn inventive, enlightened
and sanguinary mind who il master OF
the craft in theory as well a. in practice
-has more real philosophy in him, than
twenty Of those minute philosophers,
who spend their lives in puzz!i0g the
world with empty metaphysical speculs.
tions. The mechanic who perfectly uo-
der.tands bis trade, Is well 10 the prin-
ciples as in the practice OF it, gets him
self degree Of no inconsiderable rank
ami honor, and that, without the inter-
vention OF college, or the formal vote
of learned corporation. To become
an Ingenious and enlightened mechanic,
it is necessary that the youth who is des-
tined for trade should bring to bis
employment q mind inquisitive, studi'
. Us, buoy aud inclined to mechanic pUr-
suits. Such "a mind, with ordinary At
tcuriun to It's cultivation, can scarcely
: fail OF becoming in q very considerable
degree enlightened. But. TO the coinmoG
source o: information, a good many ma
chsnics add a iaudable attention &c
books, to the periodical publications. OF
the day and to the ASSOCIATE, q. for mutu-
, al Improvement. Mechanics and apEren-
,iees' libraries are established, andsocie-
tie. formed, which by inducing studiou.
habits, Interchange Of ideas ard ooliis'
lou Of sentiment, must tend to improv,
, the minds Of the n embers in high de-
gree. There 10, 10 fact, at toe presen
time, . very large share Of information
, and solid PRACTICAL knowledge among th'
Z. mechanics of this country.
The life OF the mechanic, it Is true, il
, a life Of labor-sud, while he wipes thu
sweat from his brow, be may, perhaps
murmur at bis fate, and envy what b.
considers the easy lot Of other profes
3. sionp. But where 10 the business ths
exempts maa from . life Of labor
!. The life Of judge q, d o. the 6rss Off
: Ger under government is life Of labor
} But can these honorable men build
: ship or raise spire to heaven, or exer
else oil or any OF those srts which adj
90 much to the comfort and grandeur o
the world These the mechanic can do
! and If be duly reflects upon the impor
lance Of his labors, he can scarcely re
pine at bis lot.