Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-09-16
Eduastion md manual Labor.

Lad or ths Ashboro' Bulletin, ~concer-
MIN ne strodE sversion of educated youths
to resort Il any sort of manual labor for
a subsistsEeeS our mind has been not al
little exercised on the subject. And our OBJ
servation and reflection have led us to the
unwelcome conclusion, that the hypothesis
is an existent fact-one that is increasing
f~earfully in the Southern States, at least
Now, in what we shall say on this subject,
we solemnly protest against the charge OF
decrying against education becoming uni
versal, and the greatest intellectual cultiva-
ton being promoted among the masses
among every class and all classes of commu-
nifty. In our humble way, we have always
advocated the widest extension of education
among the people and we are the ardent
friend Of all means calculated to bring about
SO desirable an end but in removing the
evil of ignorance, we wish also to guard
against crimes and higher evils that may
arise from such removal, if not protected in
time.
1t cannot be disguised, that among the
thousands to whom are now being opened the
doors to the mysteries of literature and sci
ence, there are comparatively none who is
sue from their ennobling temples with a de-
sire to cultivate the earth for the purpose o
: acquiring greater knowledge in the sublim
sciences of agriculture, chemistry, geology
: &c. There are none who become inspire,
with an ambition for q more intimate an
practical knowledge of the Mechanics an
Fine Arts. These involve mammal labor
e iCOrk Nth the hands 1.-THE making of man
: bread "by the sweat Of his brow l"-and the
e are discarded as degrading-beneath I'll
e dignity and character of an educated gentL
n man! What then? One of the 'sledrn'
IS Professions doctor, lawyer, or somethir
!, regarded as above the common mechanic,
s. hardfsted farmer-is the only ct means
h which an educated man must make his L
le ing ! The correction of this state of thin
re is what we aim at. Not by lessening or
: preciating educational facilities, but by p
a cling the dignity of honest manual labor ale
a side of education as one of the highest 9
r. noblest positions a man of mind, of lette
he and true ~virtuous Independence can occu'
IN And what is the result Of this misguit
nd adherence of laborf Go to your po
hts courts-your criminal calendars-and let
list see who are the men figuring there 7 7
the are, almost without exception, of two ella
AVS those who were reared ADORE (so-called)
, to v%irtuous restraints and noble endowment
the manual labor or those who were brou
and up beneath them. They are the fungi
rotten aristocracy, who in dissipation
cry idleness have squandered their patrimo
brit or belonging to that class Of lowest degr
ma ton, whose occupation has always bee
rom loaf and lazy, esteeming dishonesty far
fsrable to honorable labor.
UGH 1t is to correct this state of things
for wish to direct public attention. As ths
5 in itor of the Clinton Independent emphati
asks remarks-Mennust "learn to work. WI
nfu- come our greatest menf Not generally
into our "frst honor graduates" of the sci
rs, a nor from the fields of regular Military
dus- ing. But generally from among the !
they ing classes, where necessity has taught
IONS, lessons of industry and economy. It
her gular that the world almost always lo'
cter, the wrong direction for the uprising of
and ty men, to meet the exigences Of the
rave, While they look to the top of the mou
IS or expecting to seesome pampered son of "
ty or rise in a full blaze of glory, they are su
heed ly surprised, by hearing the shouts
sink multitude in the vale below, pouring
that their plaudits upon some original geniul
must rises superior to his origin, and mocks
urate petty distractions in his pathway.
ID in ever circumstances require that somt
alf of intellect should rise up to meet some
liar emergency of the times where a
will and an unfinehing nerve alone
, trusted, it is from the working men
world that such characters are taken.
nice young fop, skilled in sporting
headed cane,or giving a moustache the
curl, is never the man for an importan
d.. The children of your fashionable Won
~ milk-sop heroes, and are never fit for 81
mmit- where responsible and importapt dut
ry ar to be performed. Why then should a
,nrpal man be afraid or ashamed Of work 2
- should not every man look with 90
nc ar upon the idle loungers in society," T
Turing secret of ell greatness lies in the &C
idence ton of an honest heart with an indr
the hand.