The Kanzas news., 1857-07-04
EMPORIA, .KANZAs, JULY 4, 1851.
Importance of knowledge to the Me-
chanif

importance OF h4OWledSe 70 the E16-
chanlc.
Let us imagine for moment the eondi-
ton of an individual, who has not adyane-
ed beyond the merest elements of knowl-
edge, who understands nothing of the Prin-
ciples even of his own art, and inquire what
change VIII be wrought In his feelings, his
hopes, and happiness, IN aH that makes up
the character, by the gradual inpour,ng OF
knowledge He has row the capacity of
thf ught, but it is a barren faculty, never
nourished by the food of the mind, and new
er rising above the poor objects of sense
Labor and rest, the hope of mere animal
enjoyment, or the fear of want, the care of
providing covering and food, make up the
whole sum of his existence. Such man
may be industrious, but he cannot love la
bor, for it is not relieved by the excitement
Of improving or changing the processes of
his art, nor cheered by the hope of better
condition. When released from labour, be
does not rejoice, for zaeze is3lapsss Is aat
enio,xses.E; aud be has no ibooE, no lesson
of science. no play of the mind, no interest
iRg pursuit, to give a zest to the hour of
leisure. Home has few charms for him; he
has little taste for the quiet, the social con-
verse, and exchange of feeling and thought,
the innocent enjoyments. that ought to dwell
there. Society has little to interest him,
for he has no sympathy for the pleasures or
pursuits, the cares or troubles of others, to
whom he cannot feel nor perceive his bonds
of relationship All of life is but poor
boon for such man; and happy for himself
and for mankind, if the few ties that hold
him to this negative existence be not bro
ken. Happy for him if that best and sur
est friend of man, that messenger of good
news from Heaven to the poorest wretch on
earth, Religion, bringing the fear of God,
appear to save him. Without her to sup
port, should temptation assail him, what an
easy victim would he fall to vice or crime!
How little would be necessary to oVerturn
his Unbalanced principles, and throw him
grovelling in intemperance, or send him
abroad on the ocean or the highway, an en-
emy to himself and his kindl
But let the light of science fall upon that
man; open to him the fountain of knowledge;
let few principles of philosophy enter his
mind, and awaken the dormant power of
thought; he begins to look k upon his art with
an altered eye. 1t ceases to be dark me-
chanical process, which he cannot under
stand; he regards it as an object of inquiry,
and begins to penetrate the reasons, and ac-
quire new mastery over his ow9 instru-
ments. He finds other and better modes of
doing what he had done before, blindly and
without interest thousand times. He learns
to profit by the experience of others, and
ventures upon untried paths. Difficulties,
which before would have stopped him at the
outset, receive ready solution from some
luminous principle of science. He gains
new knowledge and new skill, and can i'm
prove the quality of his manufacture, while
he shortens the process, and diminishes his
own labor. Then labor becomes sweet to
him; it is accompanied by the consciousness
of increasing power; it is leading him for
ward to higher place among his fellow men.
Relaxation, too, Is sweet to him, as it ena-
bles him to add to his intellectual stores,
and to mature, by undisturbed meditation,
the plans and conceptions of the hour of la
Dor. His home has acquired a new charm;
for he is become man of thought, and feels
and enjoys the peace and seclusion of that
sacred retreat; and he carries thither the
honest complaceRcy which is the compan-
ion of well-earned success. There, too.
bright visions of the future sphere open up
on him, and excite kindly feeling towards
those who are to share in his prosperity
Thus his mind and heart expand together
He has become an intelligent being, and,
while he has learnt to esteem himself, he
has also learnt to live no longer for himself
alone. Society opens like new world to
him, he looks upon his fellow-c creatures with
interest and sympathy, and feels that he has
a place in their affections and respect
Temptations assail himin vain. He is arm
ed by high and pure thoughts. He takes a
wider view of his relations with the beings
about and above him. He welcomes every
generous virtue that adorns and digniies
the human character. He delights in the
exercise of reason-he glories in the con-
seriousness and the hope of Immortality
B. EMERSON.