Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-26
HE Is ONLY A MECHANIC.

We heard young lady say the 9th.
CT day, "iic is only a mechanic y Tho
remark struck US very rorcibly and We
never see her without looking upon her
with some degree Of pity. The remark
showed now utterly ignorant she was of
what mechanic was. BY referring to
Webster'a unabridged she will find he
j. one who works with machines or
instruments; workman or .@torer
o,h?r than "-rlcultQrs IN artisan, m
artiicer, more specifically, one who
practices any mechanical arts one
skilled or employed in shaping and
uniting material. wood, metal 30. into
any kind Of structure, or other object
requiring the use of tools, or instru-
ment, The remark would not have
struck US with much pungency, II she
had not applied it as term OF rooroach
and contempt YounG lad, if your
mind is capable of thj king just put it
in operation, and viii soc what
mechanics have donv ip, ih " rid, aud
you will especially see how mu II ho
has added to the pleasure OF your in
CRATE self That jowey that you wear
and worship, those silks aud laees, bon
nets and ehiInon, that jou f2ol noe as-
airy TO your existence; that powder,
paint and false teeth that you ch at
the world with; that mirror that you
worship before that picture of your
be ,utiiuI self you gaze on 50 adnlring-
w, aud all of the artificial dPpurtcnaaccs
that 50 largely constitute your make
up, all these are the productions of
che mechanic Bat they have uoblsr
work for the world than this They
have nodded the plow share and shaped
the sword they have made the instrn-
mants Of peace a0d war; they have
made the world what il is Newton, who
filed with glorious 81 ilendor the world
Of science; Milton, from whose lips
poured the Iidc oi poetlcaI inspiration; I;
ilcrscheIl who placed another star IN
the canopy Of Heaven, Shakespeare,
nature sweetest child Franklin, who
snatchcl the forkcd lightning from itA
eternal home and placed it at mans
disposal and Morse, who tsugnt 1t to
speak our tongues Fulton, who made
pa,aeos walk the ltcr lik. things OF
life; watts, who gaze the iron horse
hi, yer, breath AMI iocomotion all OF
these are indebted tp mechanics for
their glorion7 rcuowD AMI bat for their
aid clnld never have achieved the sue
cess they dl, nor couid they have
ma le them known to tho world. Tho
military mea Of fame we're az depend
ent upoa th3 mechanic for their 81
cess as those IN psaeabe snd scientific
pursuits. How cogl Alexabtss, Ca
sar, Nap ,'eon or Washington over il, =
achieved victory hal not 'he m ci, "a.
ic place tha instr ,ae1ts of war in the
han Is Of their saIi or Tney reared
the mill, that grind out tho staff OF
life, and ory oh pch aud palace " hose
shin'n' sprc tcnl upwarl until ita
,ljtterin5 point sy,m' Ike star On
the brow Of souber HI .sht. is his hanll
work an | tho proud COSY that han>
ter with the mil crested wave, and
bears the commerce Of nations, receives
It's shape, bea ,ty arl stability + an
him. IN short. young lady, your own
mansion, and everything in i. which
renders it comfortable and pleasant,
was made by mechanics kYorythin,
that you usc IN subsequent hfe will ba
furnished 10 yon by ,h's class of men,
and whom your little soul viii take
ilght back t9 tho presence Of Him who
,aid uln the sweat Of thy brow thou
,haIl eat bread" the mechanic will
mako your case. baar you to grave
already prepared with Instruments he
made, aud whan yolr form has ceased
TO walk tho hauhts Of men. will rear \
shat, Of marble a'-,Ye your dus.-retara,
INK form. ard thereon will neatly Q 'i..
q the aalse Of ono who loSked With
coo,emp. up1n a iaeqhanE,