Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-21

There arc in our language several
words which might be used to designate
my present subject. They are philoso-
ply, Science, Invention, aud Art In
themselves they are significant of differ
cnt powers Of the human mind, and are
exercised towards the attainment of diff
icrcnt ends. But there is a sense in
which these words may be used to signi-
fy one and the same thing. There is an
end common to all; that end is tho i'm
provement of the social condition of man !;
while The means employed for its attain
nent--whether intellectual or physical
sre included in the industrial exercise Of
tie faculties with which he has been en-
dowed By his Creator. Except revela-
lion, (man's greatest blessing philoso-
ply, Science, Invention, and Art. have
exercised the most beneficial influence
upon his condition. They have been the
Instruments by the aid of which he has
surrounded himself with the comforts
and enjoyment Of civilized life, and, to
the mere qualification of sense, added
the more refined and ennobling pleasures
of the intellect But they are only in
atruments. His own mind has given
them being. His own powers have
used, directed, aud governed their exer-
else. tits his own Industry that has made
them productive Of benefit. Hence, the
one sense common TO all is found in the
idea expressed by the title have given
Ill I L.
Try Of Man
This Productive Industry is therefore
both mental and physical Both the
head and the hand have been busy in
the progress Of social Improvement. And
truly wonderful have been the results Of
,heir combined action. So wonderful
indecd, that we are lost in the immensely
Of its creations. Every page Of human
history presents a triumph of human
genius, and every addition which Time
makes to its huge volume exhibits new
trophies of its victories. To sketch even
the outline Of this Progress would be to
attempt the history Of civilization itself.
We would have to roll back the tide of
time, and, from the earlier periods of hu-
man existence select for our opening
view that age whom Society emerged from
its rude, imperfect state, and gathered to
Itself the combinations Of regularity and
order. We should be called to trace out
The birth, the growth, and the maturity
ot the great Monarchies OF the East
Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon-and to
Gull from their national and political evo-
lutions the evidences Of growth in Art.
At once many brilliant results Of Pro-
ductive Industry would meet our eye
We should see that all the inventions
which contribute to human comfort and
accommodation, had even then attained
no uncomfortable improvement There
beneath the shadow OF the towering Pyr-
amids. or within the palaces Of voluptu-
"us Nineveh, or standing upon the hang
ing gardens of Imperial Babylon, VIC
should look upon Painting. Sculpture,
and Architecture springing into being
the useful arts multiplying their applica-
ton to the supply Of human wants, aud
Alphabctic Writing beginning career of
moral glory to which the unrivalled eff
fulgence Of the meridian sun is the only
physical parallel And even in that
early epoch, we would have to turn our
Eyes towards the Inaratime cities Of Tyre
and Carthage to behold Commerce, even
in its infancy, spreading knowledge and
refnement to other realms, in their turn
TO take part in the advancement of human
improvement Nor could we complete
our opening picture even here. Jerusa-
lem. Jebovah's own Jerusalem. would
demand our attention, and we would be
called to note how, from the golden domes
aud pinuacles of the worlds great won
der. the magnificent Temple Of Solomon,
the hight Of a Divine revelation is thrown
ufoo this first stage IN the Progress Of
t.o FFvir:..y: Inlu.trt q Man