Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-11-18


impossible for any one to succeed 10 any of
the learned professions, without preparatory
course OF study to understand, theoretically
what he intends to practice, is readily admit
ted by the most ignorant, and yet the sciences
of Chemistry, Botany, etc., have not more
direct bearing upon the science of the "IIca-
ing Art to enable the physician to under
stand the chemical properties and affintics of
the minerals and vegetables embraced in his
Mdferfa Acc1tca, than knowledge Of the
same sciences hus upon the science of agri-
culture i'll enabling the tiller of the soil to
understand the different constituent elements
OF his lands, how to mix and compound diff.
ferent fertilizers, mineral and vegetable, SO as
to give to his crops their necessary and ap-
propriate food
That q possession of scientific knowledge
docs not increase physical strength, by en-
larging the bones, sinews or muscles of their
possessor, no one pretends to insinuate, much
less to affirm neither does it give an addi-
tional quantity of brains. But we will tel!
those anti tiscientifc, anti progressive agricul-
turlsts what it upquestionably does do: 1t
develops and puts in progressive motion the
latent, dormant and otherwise Inactive facul.
ties of the brain, and by this means creates,
if you please, physical force to an extent lit
tie short of ininty! Hence, if knowledge
of the sciences does not enhance corporcal
strength by charging neither bone, snew
nor muscle, nor by all combined, yet it does
| what amounts to the same thing-it teaches,
through the medium of tho brain, the great
laboratory of thought, the prime mover, orig
lnator and final consummator of every physi.
cal action, whether that action eliminated in
showing the ingenuity of its originator, in the
construction of the fashioned, slowly
trudglng truck wagon, or in that of the fast
flying railway car. nrnnelled nv "the snnrtino
fiery Stced, whose iron sincws never tire !"
The invention of the steam engine, with ito
great utilizing results, its application to nau-
tical and overland transportation, its applica-
tion in propeling machinery for mechanical
purposes, and the invention of the magnetic
telegraph, and its application in transmitting
thought, literally, as it we're, annihilating
time and space are all illustrations which are
continually rcitcrating tho assertion, yea,
demonstrating it as fixed fact, and trans
mtsing the intelligence, throughout the civ
ilized world, with the velocity of lightning
and in tones of thunder, that physical strength
has been, through the medium of tho brain,
through the instrumcntality of mental culture,
Increased during the last half century almost
nd mfnttum! Hence, the conclusion is ir-
resistible, that if it does take bono and mus
Gle to hold the rein, crack the whip and drive
the plow, that it also requires brains to con-
struct the plow, manufacture the whip and
select the time and direct the course of the
p|ow's going that if it takes rich and fer.
tile soil to produce abundant crops, that it al
80 requires brains, instructed in the science
of chemistry, to understand how, by proper
ad mixture Of fertilizers, to enrich the soil,
and scientific knowledge of the laws of me
ohanics to understand properly how to con
struct the best implements Of husbandry-.
which knowledge includes the sciouce Of
mathematics.
One brief remark in regard to knowledge
in general, and We have done 1t is fact
which seems to be generally overlooked, that
that knowledge technically termed scicntifc,
and that acquired by observation, experience
or accident, are one and the same thing
Knowledge upon any given subject, whether
acquired within the walls of the College un
der the scientific instruction of the most
learned and complete corps of professors. or
whether through the medium of observation,
experience or chance, are one and tho same
thing-the only difference being in degree,
and not in kind. 1t is the same inherent
function Of the brain, denominated by tho
Phrenologist, "consttuctivess," wllioi, enables
one man with his rude knowledge of mechan.
los to construct the truck wagon, and that
which enabled Watt to construct steam
engine, and a Fulton to apply it to naviga
ton. And hence, it is only in tho degree Of
knowledge possessed by one, and in the ab.
sence of that degree in another, which makes
tho difference between tho learned and the
unlearned--between tho scientific philosopher
and the unsoientifc barbarian. w..
Townville, s. O.
HS- The census show that Iowa has 6,000,.
600 of dogs. AS to how MANY vo on two