Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-04-25
The Esncatfon of the Eve i.


until developed by Use. The infan,
a. readily reaches for the moon rs for
the rattle lying in his lap, and even
apprentices TO a mechanical occupa-
tion frequently make ludicrous mis-
takes until they have acquired that
skill Of vision usually known is the
mechanical eye" so necessary to
every finished workman.
1t should De the object Of boys even
in their sports to cultivate this sense
of vision as II means TO their after Sue
cess If any mechanical branch is to be
their business in IIfc. For this reason
the use of the fowling piece, rifle, and
the bow and arrow is 10 hc commended.
By either of these the cye becomes ac-
customcd 10 measuring distance. This
quality of calculating distance is first
acquired by the observation of the
relative position of objects. If rifle
Is used and the sight is adjusted TO one
hundred yards it is well to first meas
ure the distance by II line, as pocket
tape, and gradually TO become accus-
TONED to fix the distance by tho eye
without any mechanical aid. 1t is
surprising how expert even n boy Liav
become in measuring distances by
practice. We said tie noting Of the
relative position. Of objects should ut
hrst be r>ed as q means to the end, but
Il son ps possible the tyro should
c-nancipatc himself from this depend
cncc. After becoming familiar with
distances OH land the learner will
find great difficulty in estimating dis
tanccs on the water, especially on a
smooth cXpanse, having no fixed OBJ
Ject> above its surface. lie will gem
orally undcrratc the distance. So in
measuring across dcprcSsions, as a val
ley or even narrow gulley, every
boy know, the liability and danger of
such mi>calculations. 1t may appear
easy To leap from one bank TO the
other OF Il brook, hut often his conf
dencc III the unoducatcd eye may be-
punished by IL good. thorough wetting
The laws of optics should be made
study by the young. We well rcncm-
Der the many trials to which We were
subjected when boy in consequence
OF our Ignorance of the rcfraction of
light in passing from Il medium like
the air INTO Il denScr one, as water.
The pickcrcl loves TO sun himself ~
ing in shallow water, just beneath the
surface, where he remains perfectly
motlonlcSS unless disturbed. The
of these fish, either with bow
AMI arrow or with the fnwling liecc,
Il common amusement, but he who
would succeed must understand, in
practice if not III theory, the rcfraction
of rays of light. Tho fish is not where
he appears To be when seen at an angle,
as when the spectator is on the bank.
If aimed nj the shnt viii not touch
him. This quality of light can bo
illustrated by thrustinga straight stick
into still water, IL in Il pail or tub Of
wafer. At the point whore the sur
face of the water touches the stick il
will appear a if broken or bent at an
angle
Measurements on much smaller
scale are also useful "a. educators of the .
EYE. After an examination of the f
foot rule with its divisions il is we'll TO T
calculate surfaces, rs the
length width and hight ola table, the
of block of wood, &C.,
and then To verify the calculation 10y
the application of the rule, which may
be nj all times carried in the pocket.
These experiments may seem pucrilc,
but the mechanic knows the value of
them, and il is rs well that the boy
he future apprentice and workman
should thus prepare himself for his
'our>e and make his way, a, Il learner,
'a>lcr. No means to an end should be-
!c>piScd because of its apparent sim
plicity, and whether q man j. \ practi-
al mechanic or not, he will often SEQ
The value of a correct eye in c~timat-
nS and measuring. .-,Sricafifc imeri-
ran.