Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-16
DIGNITY or MEcHANTc ARTS


1.-THE dignity Of things may be measured by their
Importance to mankind, there is nothing, perhaps,
which can RANK above the mechanic arts. In fact,
they may be called the lever, the fulcrum and the
power which move the world. They do not want
the " ohereon TO stand" of Archimedes; they have
a sufficient foundation in themselves.
What gives to civilized nations their superiority
over the savage? 1t is chiefly mechanic arts. By
them the beautiful and convenient mansion is sub
stituted for the rude and uncomfortable wigwam;
and " scarlet and fine twined linen" supply the
wardrobe in place of the skins of wild animals
They are the foundation of nearly all the improve
ments aud the comforts of life and further, we may
say of the glory and grandeur Of the world By
them the farmer ploughs the land and by them the
mariner ploughs the ocean; by them the monarch
is adorned with his crown and by them the peasant
is clad in comfortable garments; BY them the trium-
phal arch is raised to the hero, and by them the
temple ascends to Deity by them the wealthy roll
in cbariots and loll couehes; by them the sword
is polished and the axe is tempered; by them the
table is spread the bed is decked, and the parlor is
furnished. To them the poet owes the perpetuation
Of his fame, and the warrior the evergreen of his
laurels; by themHomer sings and Caesar triumphs in
all ages. Through them We are instructed by the
wisdom of Plato, and charmed by the eloquence of
Cicero; through them admire the justice Of
Aristides and the heroism of Leonidas.
AID mucn of this is owing to two single arts
that of printing and the manufacture of paper By
ages but without the latter the benefits of printing
would be cireumscribed to very narrow bounds 1t
is by means of the press chiefly that so much of
Christendom owes its escape from the thraldom Of
superstition and it is to the same means that we
Americans owe our free and enlightened Institutions
To these means, which originated in few rude types
carved on block of wood, is owing the present won
derful diffusion of knowledge, which distinguishes
this from all former ages. But whether book be
printed on paper and sold for single dollar, or la
boriously written parchment and sold for thou
sand it is still the mechanic art that the world is
and has been indebted for the transmission and diff
fusion of light through the of books, wheth-
er the rays of that light shine upon few persons or
many.
But in speaking of the dignity of mechanic arts,
we would not cOn6ne them to the mere hand that
executes, without thinking of the head that plans;
for without the latter but little more credit would be
due to the person who exercies these arts than to
the automaton Turk who mechanically astonishes
the world at the game of chess. To produce the
great effects we have mentioned above, TO do so
much to enlighten, to beautify, and improve the
world; to labor for the glory and happiness of 9TH
ers, and yet be ignorant OF the springs by which
these important movements are carried on would i'll
comport with the dignity of the mechanic. He
would be if we may compare small things with
great ) like the sun in the heavens, which renders
light, and warmth and comfort to mankind without
itself being conscious whereof.
There is philosophy in mechanic arts. The me-
chanic who brings to his occupation an inventive,
emil ghtened, and inquiring mind, who is master Of
his craft in theory well in practice, has more
of real philosophy in him than twenty of those
81 minute philosophers" who spend their lives in
pulling the world with empty metaphysical specu-
laiOns The man who, like Franklin, or Fulton, or
Count Rumford, employs his inventive and studious
mind to ameorae the condition of his species,
whatever his rank In life may be, is indeed the genu
inc philosopher. But how much of real practical
philosophy may be found among the mechanics of
this new world, to say nothing of the Wattses, and
Arkwrights, aud Brindleys of the old! "By their
fruits shall ye know them. "-BerkshTe american.
STATUE OF WEBsTER.-The Florence eorrespon-
dent of the Newark AdUertiser says:
Powers noble statute of Webster has been trsas
ferred to bronze the foundry in this city, and is
about to be shipped for Boston. The casting is
quite worthy of the model; admirable for tone and
accuracy. 1t was visited by the members of the
Royal family, the Ministers of State, and many Of
the connoiseurs of the country, who concur in as
crbing to it the highest merit In the general judg
ment here, it fully confirms reputation which is one
of proudest titles respect in the world of art
Its matchless fidelity as portrait will be best ap-
preciated at home No American artist has attained
higher distinction abroad than Powers. Attracted
by this commanding distinctinn the Prince of SYRIA
cuse, brother of the King of Naples, who has Won
ton to Letters and Art, recently made himself one
oftthe pupils of cOuntryman, and has transferred
his methods and his tools to his own well furnished