Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04
A knowledge Of Common
Things.


1t is not knowledge of abstruse
and difficult questions that we need i,
so much as a familiarity with the
everyday affairs Of life. The num-
Der of persons who attain to eminence
by the extent of their information is
necessarily small. Their heads tower
above others, like the peaks Of noun
tains, and their names are in every
persons mouth. They are the eX-
ceptions, and not the rule. 1t will
lie observed in studying the history
Of tire world, that the great mass OF
people, who represent the valleys,
have been raised by The progress Of
discovery and invention, until the
common man has at the present age,
attained a hight that was formerly
considered inaccessible, except to the
scholars by profession. The man
who eycels must go vastly higher
row than he was compelled to do in
the time of Plato and other philoso-
piers, about whom our learned pun
dts tell such marvellous stories. In
fact, Liebig says: "Our children have
more accurate perception and under
standing of nature and natural
phenomena than Plato had, and they
can laugh at the mistakes made by
pliny." But there's no denying the
fact that a knowledge Of common
things is sadly needed in every COM
munity; and we must take care that
children Of a future generation do
not turn the laugh on us. We are
led to these reflections by the occ' :
sional receipt of letters asking ques-
tions, the answers to which ought to
be known to the veriest tyro in
science. We are always glad to
answer questions, and many Of our
correspondents favor us with valua-
bile information, or start topics that
lead to important investigations.
Now and then some one asks ques-
ton, very much as if he were 10
inquire if water commonly runs up
hill, or something equally absurd.
We receive specimens of minerals,
such as quartz or rock crystal or
feldspar, desiring an analysis to be
made, and inquiring if they contain
precious metal? We are asked if a
perpetual motion be possible? What
are the constituents Of water? Can
it be rendered combustible by being
passed through iron CRATES? Does
the air have any weight? Can water
be COMPRESSED? And SO on through
Il long l;st of questions, upon
subjects that ought to be common
property with every one who has
attended public school.
We think that teachers and pro-
fesSors commit the mistake of aim
ing their instruction too high. They
take it for granted that their pupils
know more than they really do, and
omit just the common things about
which we are complaining that there
is too much ignorance. If We begin
1T the top, and raise the roof Of q
house, that does not help the founda-
4 10 fnr In rSt tn IIl
cellar and basement, and brild up
strongly from the bottom; we can
then add to the structure as much as
we please, and those who have the
leisure and means may go upas high
as their inclinations may lead them
arithmetic must precede algebra
mineraiogy properly introduces geol.
ogy, spelling goes before compositioD
things ought to be taken in Their
natural order, and jumping over The
slough Of Despond," or tunneling
the "liill of Difficulty" will not do
The merchant WHO introduces g
new style OF goods must, first, by
advertising and in various ways
create a demand for what he has &c
sell. People mast learn 70 appreciate
aud value the new articles. 1t Se'
quires very little preliminary educa
ton TO accomplish this, but the
invention of new machine, inyolv
ing acknowledge of the first principle:
Of science, often meets with or, a
Obstacles on account of the ignorance
OF the community. Such an inventor