Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-11

was crowded with an interested audience p.
B. Cornwall, President of the Mechanics In-
stitute, after prayer, delivered the opening
address, which was followed by music, and
then ex-senator Sargent delivered the fol-
lowing
GRAFTON:
Some years ago, while trying certain actions
growing out Of the breaking Of great reservoir,
was much struck by observing the concurrence
OF testimony and judgment Of scientific men and
that OF merely practical men upon the nature OF
forces and their action bodies Of those whose
theories were gained from study and those whose
practical expci fence the basis of their knowl
edge. was led to appreciate that science guides
the worker, sometimes unconsciously to himself,
and that the theories Of philosophers are but the
sum Of the practical mans experience, or the deduc
tions of genius from his discoveries. Arehimedes
did not invent the lever. Workmen whose names
have not been transmitted used it for ages before
he discovered the conditions of its equilibrium aud
struck out the dea of center OF gravity for all
bodies. The invention of machines to move large
masses is older than any human record The archi-
tects Of the middle ages had practical knowl-
edge of the strength of materials, and
had witnessed all variations of falling
bodies before Calico made his experiments
on one and discovered the laws relating to the
other. A constant succession Of illustrious men
have prosecuted the study of theoretical mechanics.
Their abors have added largely to the worlds
knowledge Of the laws OF force, motion, equilib-
rum, mechanical principles and dvantages. But
operative mechanics have kept in the advance, and
have furnished the necessary problems and Illus
trations The natural laws evolved by scientific re-
search have served guides for experiment and
been useful to explain phenomena. Ii the results
have been sometimes merely speculative, sometimes
only curious, often absruse, yet as often they lay
the foundation for further achievements in art and
mechanics. Such achievements are the product of
the work shop which is the pioneer in the school oi
progress; for the real advances in mechanics have
come from inventors who have usually been prac-
tical and not scientific II en- The latter may have
observed the processes secured by the former and
determined the rules that secured results but the
workmen have invented these processes and given
TO the world their industrial operation
INVENTORS USUALLY POOR MEN.
1t is singular fact that very many Of the inven-
tors Of the world have been poor men, most of
them getting little advantage from education. Thus
Albright who invented the cotton-spnning
frame, which olutioniZed the business of cotton
manufacture and gave great impetus to English
prosperity born of parents too poor to give him
any education. So humble were bis fortunes that
he earned his living as barber shaving in cellar
for penny Until he was Is wears old. He did not
acquire even the rudments of learning until he so
years old. Yet be invented machine that enabled
one man to do the work of 100. George Stephen
son. the inventor Of the high-speed locomotive,
fireman in various collieries, and could not read
until l9 years OF age His son was the constructor
of some OF the most remarkable engineering
structures Of modern civilization. The real
yentor OF the sewing machine was farm aborer
IN earY lie, and subsequently cotton mill oper-
ator. The list could be indefinitely extended were
it necessary, but is sufficient to ilustr te the fact
that advancement in mechanic art springs from the
workshop as well from the scientists study, and
may be the product of the humblest worker.
SCHOOLS OF oBJECT-TEAcHING.
Hence, grand exhibitions like yours, calling
together the inventors and workers of the coast
enabling them to compare their own with others
achievements to learn by observation what has
been attempted and what accomplished, are
schools Of object-teaching of the most practical
character, appealing to sensitive and receptive
minds, educated by their own thought and expe.
rience to appreciate such advantages to the
fullest value. The stimulus of such culture upon
average minds is marked by the onstant improve
ment i'll every branch OF mechanics, as witnessed
by the patents issued by the Government. Any
list of patents gives evidence Of restless intellectual
activity among our mechanics in improve ments
upon every possible article of use or luxury
from a pencil sharpener to "a pano-iorte; from
n cheese press to a steam fire-eBgine from a
horse-rske to a quartz-crusher. Wherever there
is want, invention struggles to supply it. a
thousand busy brains contend with any obstacle
until it is surmounted and it is often the case that
simultaneous discovery leaves doubt as to the
originator of a novel nveRtion. Vast grain-felds
required increased facilities for cultivation and
miracles seemed to be worked by the machines that
supplied the want. Demand for ranid communica-
tion created the steamer the railroad the telegraph
the telephone. War calls for destructive agencies
which supplied by repeating arms, by ironclads
and their application to the uses of life immeasur.
able No one cln set bounds to that application for
the admitted impossibility Of one generation be-
comes the accomplished fact in another.
PAST AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
We pride ourselves upon the advance that we
have made over the ways of our fathers We
enumerate with satisfaction the myriad articles of
comfort and convenience which enjoy that they
did not have and display our opulence in the well
filed aise5 OF industrial halls in collection of
articles the names or uses CT which would have
been utterly strange to them. Some fanciful poet
has recalled to eartb bent upon sight seeing, and
running over with esions, one Of the old Puri-
taBs who signed the first New England charter
board the Mayfio8er, Under the guidance Of a
new-niade acquaintance, he is given successive
views OF the telegraph the railroad train in
motion, gas light, friction matches and multi
tude OF other modern inventions, his amaze
ment increasing until he endure no more
and yanishes with the declaration that the
world is turned so upside down, no peace is LETT
within it Yet the progress of the world during
the last 260 years has probably not been greater
than it will be during the next period Of that
length. Imagination cannot divine the various
forms Of machinery and appliances by which mans
mastery earthly things viii be extended and
vet experience forbids to doubt or limit the re-
suits Bulwer, in his Coming Race has sought
to give some expression to the prophetic instinct
that anticipates strange developments in the future
from the restless inventive faculty of man. He
causes his imagined beings to navigate the air by
artificial wings, with scarcely an exerton. They
have power OF instant and desolatine destruction
by means OF lightning-lIke fluid called vril. So
pot Mt is it thqt wars and even disorders have
ceased for child, by It's use, could destroy city
or an army, and contest is useless. Nations must
repose n each others good faith, not upon force
where so fatal an nstrumentaty is within reach of
all. But naginings, even in the mind of master
of fiction. slow to discover the fields that mven
ton will conquer il. the great hereafter.
AN EXHIBITION OF 21S0.
g.
attend an exhibition OF the San Francisco Mechanics
Institute in 2lS0. How absorbing our wonder
would be as we passed from article to article, of
strange names and uses, and missed the objects IA
miliar to recollection? Inanimate things would
seem endowed with intelligence. wierd world
would be opened up, astounding the faculties, all
unprepared by experience iu the progress that had
been made 10 grasp the N mlrvels surrounding them
II would be fruiess task to endeavor to anticipate
that world where all would be changed and
strasge. But we may be assured that mankind viii
be the better off for it. Every valuable invention
adds to the sum Of human happiness and comfort.
1t gives man a stronger grasp on the powers OF ma
ture solves their enigmas, and makes MIN more at
home, and more the master iii the world he inhab.
its. There Is no danger ei too much refinement or
comfort from such sources. Let invention be stim-
ulated to its utmost its work is repaid for human
good and those instrumentaties which encourage
and reward it are worthy Of praise and support
However much certain class of observers may
be held to deprecate the tendency of modern civi-
zation aud forbode its outcome from the occasional
agitations that rue lis surface, 1t is demonstrate
that the comforts only in reach of the rich
now more generally distributed; that education,
once the privilege of the few is now attanable by
the many: that perseverng industry is better re-
warfed and-a certain test OF the general welfare
longevity is considerably increased.
THE HOMES AND MODES OF LIFE OF THE
COMMON PEOPLE IN oLDEN TIMES.
The descriptions by old authors of the novels and
modes Of life of the commonalty in their days
cannot now be quoted lest decency be offended
Erasmus described these things with more vigor
than delicaey. Holingshed in producable phrase,
refers to the rude way OF living of his generation
considerable towns; the fire kibdled
by the WALL and t G smoke found its
way out by the roof, or door, or unglazed
windows; the houses were nothing but waiting
pastered over with clay; the people slept on
straw pallets and had good round log under the
head for pillow, and almost all furniture and
utensils were of wood will not describe the rush
covered foors where dirt was the chief and obtru-
sive Characteristic In view of such picture, let
him who will declam against the progress of inven.
ton, the arts and refinement. II these accom-
panied with some discontent, theY certainly remove
many Of the reasons for it.
LAB0R-SAyING MACHINERY.
believe it is not now considered, except by few
among the more ignorant, that lavor-saving
machines are injurious to the working classes.
IL is generally known that such appliances enor-
mous'y increase employment for the laborer,
while enabling him to perform the work of many.
Cheapness, caused by facility of production,
vastly increases the market for the product, by
bringing it within reach of wider circles of people
80 f,.nr sal .trhff