The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-04
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, OCTOBER A. 1853.

70 ,,,oro i any one thing more than another, for
-, 1Io,rrrr and Fox, and the great body of
=, ~, p,dical Reformers, will be gratefully re-
orod bv posterity, it will be for their untirng
=. n elevate the condition of the. laboring
o,,ssos 1t is true, that National Schools, con-
a.o,od IN the Lancasteran system had long been
o.,ol1ished in every town and village throughout
tbe island, and, although it was not made compul-
sorry. as in Germany, upon the poorer population
TO send their children to school, the opportunity of
attaining at least the rudiments of common
school education was offered gratuitously to all,
without distinction of creed, who chose to accept
Of the boom But the knowledge acquired at the
National schools was altogether elementary. When
youth had learned to read, to WRITE and to
cipher, his education was supposed to have been
completed If he desired to know more, he must
90 elsewhere But where then could he go? From
the advantages held out by private educational es-
Adjustments he was debarred, by reason of his
povcrty and it was q matter of impossbiity for
any, but a few of the more fortunate among the
poorer class of scholars, to obtain entrance into
the richly endowed institutions. Yet the want of
intermediate grades of Free Schools was deeply
felt though little or nothing was done towards es-
tablishing them, until the Radical Reformers took
the matter in hand and prosecuted it to a success
full issue SO far they had done well; but there
was yet another field in which much good could be
accomplished. The education of poor children
had been better provided for; but there was also
much that vet could be done for those of maturer
wears for the apprentices who were learning their
trades; for the girls who watched and regulated
the revolutions of the spindles in great factories
for those who sat daily at the loom, plying to and
fro the swift shuttle; for the workers in iron and
brass, and wood-for all the oiling thousands that
were restricted to the humbest sphere of labor by
reason of their defective education. Many of them
were known TO be ambitious of raising themselves
above their low estate if the means of advance
ment were placed within their reach and if such
means could be provided, it was hoped that the in
Huence of example would work a Salutary change
on others The first step taken towards the intel
lectual improvement Of the masses was the estab-
hshment of Free Libraries. These speedily became
popular: but it was still felt that the knowledge TO
be derived from books would prove of little service
unless it could be rendered practically useful So to
Free Libraries added Free Lectures on scientific
subjects and to Free Lectures other Departments of
instruction. prominent among which were Schools
of Desgn-and thus arose those admirably organ
lied associations which are now known as Ne
chanics Institutes. This scheme of education, so
well adapted TO promote the best interests of the
industrial classes, soon became deservedly popular
On the Continent of Europe, the utility of similar
institutions had long been recognized. In Eng
land, they took root more slowly; but, at the
present time almost every town of any note has its
Mechanics Institute. Here, in the UNITED STATES
where industry has wider field for exertion
we have as yet done but little towards extending
among the great body of the people, that elemen-
tary instruction. in science and the useful arts which
they capable of turning to such good account
1t Is gratifying, however, to know that, in our
own city, the advantages to be derived from well
organized institution of this kind have been duly
appreciated. For some ten years past the MARYLAND
Institute has been silently engaged in its useful
labors. How much good it has already accom-
plshed, can only he estimated by referring to the
constant use that is made of its excellent Library
the number of pupils that have been admitted into
It's Schools of Design, and to the large number of
nelhoelo lhul constantly attend the Lectures that
are publicly given during the winter season. Nor
is the annual exposition of manufactured articles
the least important feature in the system adopted
by the Board of Directors for promoting the inter-
ests of the Institute. Apart from the brilliant
attractions presented by these Fairs their practical
utility is unquestionable They are the means of
bringing together vast number of the choicest
specimens of industrial skill They serve to indi-
cate the progress that has been made, by American
citizens, in mechanical science and in the useful
arts They offer an opportunity to the inventor to
display, in the best manner, the product of his
skill and ingenuity, and they hold out to our own
artizans means Of comparing their handiwork
with that of Others, and of ascertaining wherein
they are superior, and wherein they have failed to
reach the same condition of excellence From
whatever point of view, therefore, we may regard
the Annual Fair of the Maryland Institute, we
cannot fail to reach the conclusion that it is emf
nently deserving of the patronage of the commu-
nifty, and that the Institute ITSELF conducted in the
able manner it has been for more than decade,
reflects honor upon the citizens under whose auspices
it has been established.