The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-08

Everything HOOu In man leslnS On VIM
Is higher. This rule holds In small and
In great. Thus, nll our strength and sue
cess In the work of our hands depend on
our borrowins tho aid Of the elements.
YOn have seen carpenter on q ladder
with ioroad-axe chopping upward clips
from beam. How awkward at what
disadvantages he works! But SEQ him on
the ground dressing. his timber under
him. Now, not his feeble muscle. but the
forcs of gravity brings down tho axe
that Is to say, the planet itself splits his
timber under him. The farmer had much
ill-tsmper, laziness. and shirking to on
dure from his harl.sswyer. until one day
he bethonght him To put his saw.mill ON
tho e,lgc Of tho waterfall and the river
never tires of turning his wheel; the river
Is good-natured and never hints an 0bjec-
ton. :.
We had letters to send; couriers could
nor 90 fast enough, nor Ear enough; broke
their wagons, foundered their horses; bad
roads In spring, snow-drifts In winter.
heats In summer; could not get the horses
ont of n walk. But wo found out that the
air and earth were full of electricity and
always going our way-just the way we
wanted to send. Would he takG q mes
aqe7 Just rs lief rs not; had nothing
else to do; would carry 1t In no time.
Only ono doubt occurrcd-one staggering
objection--he had no carpet-bag. no
visible pockets. no hands, not 30 much rs
mouth to carry letter. But after much
thought and many experiments we man.
aged 10 meet the conditions, and to fold up
the letter In such invisible. compact form
ms he could carry In those invisible pock.
cts of his, never wrought by needle and
thrcad-and It went like charm.
admire still more than tho saw mill
the skill which. on tho seashore. makes
the tides drive the wheels and grind corn,
and which thus engages the assistance OF
the moon. like hired hand, to grind, and
wind, and pump, and saw, and split stone
and roll iron.
Now that Is the wisdom Of man, In
every instance of his labor, to hitch his
wagon to n star and see his chore done by
the gods themselves. That Is tho way
we are strong, by borrowing the might ol
the elements. The forces of stream, grav-
ity. galvanism. light, magnets, wind. fire
serve us day by day, and cost us nothing.
Our astronomy Is full of examples oil
calling In the aud of these magnificent
helpers. Thus, on planet 50 small N
ours, the want of an adequate base for rs:
tronomical measurements Is early felt, ~
for example, In detecting the paralax o.
star. But tho astronomer, having by ar
observation fixed the place ofa star by 81
simple an expciient ss waiting six months
ard then repeating his observations, con
triycd to nut tho diameter of the earth''
orbit, saw two hundred millions OF miles
between his first observation and his sec-
ond. and this limo afforded him respec'
table base for his triangle. ..
All our arts aim to win his advantage.
We cannot bring these heavenly powers
tn MS, but II we only choose our jobs In
directions in which they travel, they will
undertake them with the greatest pleas
urc. 1t is u peremtory rule with them,
that Mcy ncrer 90 ont of their road. We
are dapped little bnsybodies, and run this
way and then tina. way superserviccably
hut they swcrvo never from their foreor'
dained paths-ncither the sun. nor the
moon, nor bubble of air, nor a mote ol
dust.
And rs our handiwork bOrrows tho ele-
mcnts, so all our social and political no.
ton leans on principles. To accomplish
ANYTHING excellent, the will must work
for catholic and universal ends. A puny
creature walled in on every side s Dan
lei wrote
"Unlcss above himself no can
Erect himself, how poor thing 10 man"
but when his will leans on principle
| when he Is the vehicle of ideas, he bor'
rows their omnipotcnee. Gibraltar may
be strong. hut ideas are impreguable. an,
bcstow on the hero their invincibility.
at was great instruction." said u saint
| In Cromwcll's war. "that the hest courag.
es arc but beams of The Almighty" Hitch
your wagon to q star. Let us not fag In
paltry works which serve our pot and bag
alone. Let us not lie and steal. No god
will help. We shall find MI their team,
going the other way-Charles, Vain,
Great Bear. Orion, Eco, Hercules; every
god will leave us. Work rather for those
interests which the divinities honor and
promote-justicc, freedom. knowledge,
utility.