New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-22


woven into the conjecture Of familiar life The
physical agents which perpe'uslly surround aud act
upcn and within Us heat hghs, air and aliment are
liable 10 perversion through ignorance 20 as to pro-
Once suffering aud death; or The ar. capable
hroue know ledge of promoting health .trerg 9Th and
endowment. Whist higher warrant can be asked that
L.lr laws and effects shall become subjects OF general
and earnest study 1t may seem strange tina. in regard
10 the vital interests IT life and health msn should be
LIFT without the natural guidance of Instinct ana be
driven 10 the necessity of reflection and study that
he for whom the earth seems made should be appa-
Jen,iy tess cared for in The RESPECTS than the inferior
Annals Never beess, such il the divine ordination
Neither our senses instincts, nor unstructed faculties
are efficient guides 10 good, Or gusris from evil in
even the ordinary conditions Of the civilized state.
Things which most deeply affect our welfare, the
senses fail 70 appreciate. They leIther discern
The nropertes nor the presence Of the most deadly
agents. The breathing medium may be laden with
1o1ous gases 10 the peril OF life, and the senses fail
10 detect the Danger. Hunger aud this: mpe US in
stipctyey 10 eat and drink, but they fail 10 Inform Us
Of the putiitive value OF allmentary substances
beir detetica fitness 10 varying requirements For
sJl those things which independent of mans will
PToviGetce has taken abundant care TO provide;
while in toe domain e voluntary se'on, blind nsinc'
il repaced by rational forecast. Whatever may have
h.sn those original conditions OF bare animal exis'
epce which cone yet sigh tor as the true state OF
ns,rre. -" we are far removed from them row. They
have been successfully disturbed as generation after
generation rtegCrt lingo 1uity has been exercised TO
esn control of natural forces for the securing of COM
fonts and Injuries and 70 iberate man from the prlva
ops and dTudgeIies of the uDcvlllzed condition But
upnnglcd good not permitted the benefits are
alloye ed with evil. Thus the Introduction OF The stove,
while affording the advantage of economy and conve
rie1ce in the mans cement Of fire. was step back
ward in the matter of ventilation. Gls-lghhng was
Great advance on the hOds Of artificial illunlna
tion. but there came with it augmented contain
nation OF the brc athipg medium and new dangers
Is the eyes Against these and similar In
cidental mischies-" resducs of evil" that ac-
cunulate against the predomlnatlng good-there
is re other protection than intellect ins'Iuete .a
p1d life. For these, and kindred cor iderations OF
practical moment TO all who occupy dwellir gs and as
suue civilized relations, urge the study OF house
hold stance as essential part Of general education
II deserves TO be better understood that the highest
value of science is derived from its power of advanc
ing ,he public good 1t is mole and more to be conse
Grated 70 humen improvement, as sublime regenera-
tive agency. Working jointly and harmoniously with
believe II il destined to effect extensive social amelio
ra.ions. That it is not yet fully accepted in this rela
ton is hardly surprising. The work OF presenting
scientific truth in those forms which may best engage
the popular mind is not TO be fairly expected of those
who give their lives TO its original development.
There deep satisfaction intrinsic pensating
nterest TO the discoverer in the naked quest Of truth
which is largely in"er PENDENT OF any utility that may
flow hom the inquiry. In the exalted consciousness of
achievement the man of science finds an Intellectual
remu1 eIation so royal and satisfying that other con-
sideIatOns have comparatively little weight Hence
the indifference to great deg.ee inevitable, with
which original explorers contemplate the rec uction OF
scientific prir clpes TO practical use Moreover, this
inter cartless1ess Of results where the mind is not
biased nor the vision blurred by uterior consdera'
tons is far the moot favorable for successful invest'
CATION Conscious that the effects of his lab0rs are
finally and always beneficial in society the enthusiast
of research may be excused his indifference to their
INN ediete reception and uses But the formal denial
that the allegiance OF mind ~ supremacy Que 10 the
,o,
too widely entertained in learned and educ stional cir
cle. that knowledge ia TO be firstly and chic fly priced
for its own sake, and the mental grathcation 1t pro-
duces We cannot accept The view seems narrow aud
iiberal, and is not inspired of human sympathy. 1t
took origin in times when the improvement of mans
condition his general education and elevation were
not dreamed Of Itcame from the anci et philosophy,
which was not dispensation OF popular oenencenee'
fessed its highest aim TO be persons advantage,
shut up in the individual soul. 1t was not radiant and
outfiowipg like the sum but drew all things inward,
enguing them in mastrom of seltehness.
The baneiul ethics of this philosophy have given
place TO -he higher and more nculcati"ns OF
Christianity, which lays upon human nature its broad
and eternal requirement, Z" TO do good" From this
authoritative mo. al demand science cannot be
erppted The power it confers is to be held and used
as power exercised by GOO himself for purposes Of
universal blessing.
We place q high estimate upon the advantages
which society may reap from q better acquair lance
material d
cause and effect fact and law. To the poetic day
dreamer il may be an affair Of sentiment, an nlu-
sion" or vspor," but to the mas OF mankind life
Is solid, uDmistakable reality that Will not be dis
solved into mist ard cannot be injured out of its
qualities As such we would deal with it in educa-
tiop giving prominence 10 those forms OF knowledge
which will work the largest practical alleviations and
most substantial improvement throughout the COM
mup.y But it is wisely designed that those studies
which may become in the highest degree useful are
also first in intellectual interest. 1t is grevous mis-
take suppose that the study of natural science mar
tyrzes the more ethereal faculties OF the sou and
dooms the rest to painful toll among the naked ster-
ties Of commonplace existence. So far from being un-
friendly to the ina ginson as is sometimes ntimated
science its nobles precursor and ally Can that be
unfavoable TO this faculty which infinitely mniiplies
its materials ard bouDdlessly ampGies its scope
Can that be restrictive Of mental sweep which unocks
the mysteries of the universe and pioneers its way tar
into the councils Of Omniscience Who was II that
lifted the vail, and disclosed new world OF exquisite
order and beauty in all the commonest and vugarest
forms of matter, below the former reach of eye or
thought Who was it that dissipated the fabulous
" armament" which primeval ignorance had mounted
lie central and stationary earth; set the woro IN
motion and unfolded plan of the heavens, 80 appa'
ing in amplitude that imagination itself faiters IN the
survey7 Who was it that first read the handwriting
of God upon the rocks revealing the history OF our
planet and lie inhabitants through duIatons OF winch
the mino had never before even presumed 10 dfeSm
In thus unsealng the mysteries OF beng-In turning
the c0Hmopest spot into museum OF VonoeIs-"uo
can doubt ha, science has opened new and splendid
for the play of the dvner faculties snd mar
liz pursut affords the most exhilsrang as well as the
hestbiest and purest of intellectual epjoymeats Nor
should we forget its elevating tendencies for IN CON
teinpating the varied schene of being around It's
beauties harmonies, adaptations, and purposes OF pro
fouIdes wisdom the thoughts ascend in unspeakaoie
sdmrsion to the infinite Source OF truth and light.
We should educate and elevate our nature by these
studes storing our minds with the richest msteras OF
thought, ellargrg our capacities of benign exertion,
and rising to a Hore intimate communion win tns
spirit Of the Great Maker Of al.
"a, IL, tbis connection