Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-11-25
The Dignity of the Mechanical Pro.

In country ike the United States,
j; V ould seem hardly necessary to say
4 word with the idea Of enforcing tho
claims Of mechanics TO public appre.
citation. especially when it is romem.
bered that Franklin anl host OF 9th.
er prominent men who were mainly in
strumcntal in founding this govern
ment, were mechanics. But disguise
it as you may, the fact being knowa
that man Is mechanic rather tends
to lower his social status. among the
mass of men AMI women who DO not
trouble themselves to look very deeply
into the merits Of the elements that do
their especial parts in forwarding civil
ization and progress. There is a fault
here on both sidcs-on the part Of the
mechanical ani on the part OF so.ietv.
One does not respect himself AMI his
calling sufficiently. and the other does
not look beneath the surface Of things
sulii ,iently to understand tn. import
ance of class Of men who arc doing
more 10 move this woitd than any 9th
or. The mechanic learns his traie.
and then he thinks he may stop learn
ing-at least many of them do-and
there he makes the great mi take
He should never tire in the acquisition
of knowledge. especially in those de-
partments allied and connected with
his own lsbors. If the elder Stcphcn-
son had been satisfied with his amount
OF knowledge when he had mastered
the details Of his engine at the coal pit.
he would not have had the honor OF
being the real inventor ani pcrfector Of
the locomotive. and finally the leading
Civil Engineer Of Great Britain, anil.
as he is well called. the father of the
present railway system. 1t was be-
cause he perseversa in the acquisition
0: knowledge. that he finally left a
name as impcrishaLle rs civilization
itself. Every mechanic may not ex-
pect TO reap such grand results, but he
may rest assured that his success viii
be in unison with perseverance,. tenn
pvred with that grea. common sense
which is the frui, Of exten led knowl-
e'ige and tact in the ways of tho world.
The Railway Master Mechanics OF thi,
country have. within few years, ia
ken a much higher position than ever
before. Shrewd men, stockholders and
directors. know that it is vastly more
importan; to have good Master Me-
chanic in railway management than it
is TO have . good President of the Com
pany. Every man has smattering Of
financial wisdom, but how few have
any knowledge Of the great mechanical
and scientific facts that go to render
steam AMI machinery economically
available in railway trsnsporta,ion.-
The Master Mechanic has the qpick
eye and fertile mind in mechanical
matters that tells him almost by intu-
ition, whether or not this or that ar
rangement or plan is the bette. He
does not seasirs this. however, with
out hariwork, brain work. rs il is
sometimes called but, once having
mastered il. he is inrulaerable, and in
consequence. sought ersnd. honorsi
by those whose good opinion and fel-
lowship Is an honor The success AMI
profit OF this to the man personally
does not cease ,vith.thc requirement of
riches and station-~it gives him Dig
nifty and character. Men may have the
cunning hand and requisite strength
TO make any piece OF machinery. but
aid - thsse brains 70 devise ne~ r-es