Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-06-23
HandwOrk and HeadwOrk.


1t is universally admitted that the
world has never witnessed more pro-
gress in the way of improved machinery
than is now being used. 1t is the pride
OF great manufacturing establishments
that the machinery which they use is so
improved and perfected that it is within
the possibilities for them to make any
product desired by their use. While it
is claimed that the work turned out by
these improved machines is very SUI
perior and cheaper to the consumer,
none can fail to observe the very great
consideration held for handwork. There
is principle underlying this which has
perhaps escaped the attention OF the
casual observer. Handwork is always
recommended for the sake of the work
that is, for its value; and for the sake
of the workers-that is, for the fair and
steady remuneration which it yields
him. Beyond these very visible advan-
tages we seldom look; nevertheless,
there is a good effect in the discipline
and training of the hand upon mental
power and moral character 1t is
truth awaiting full recognition that the
actual learning how to use the hands
dexterously and accurately is positive
gain to the mental faculties. The
trained eye and the trained hand are the
best preparation for the trained thought
They give the first idea of system, order,
accuracy and the effective carrying out
of plan. To make simple box, for
instance, with few simple tools, in the
neatest and best manner, brings certain
f,,,,> fon,1tinc int .N1ov or only
the eye and the hand, but Imagination
and Judgment, will and energy are all
developed in the operation. Difficulties
are appreciated and overcome, accurate
conceptions are formed and realized,
and the success which courage affords is
stored up for future efforts. The best
results are obtained where the instruc-
ton of the hand and the mind are 81
simultaneously given; then they act and
react upon each other for mutual good.
Let it be understood that we do not
say that mere manual labor of any kind
will of itself effect these results. The
world is full of inferior, defective, I'M
profitable work, and the authors of
this work are usually as poorly equipped
in character and mind. Negligent
handwork paves the way for listless
brain work. Much of the slipshod, I'M
certain calculations made by clerks and
others, which require continual check
ing and correcting and involve loss of
time, temper and money, is due to the
equally slipshod habits of using their
eyes and brains into which they have
drifted Every employment, even those
demanding literary, scientific and artis-
tic abilities, is thronged with inefficient
laborers who have never learned to do
any one thing thoroughly and well.
Had they been taught accuracy, neat
ness, excellence and dispatch, it is more
than probable that the lesson thus
engendered would have rescued them
from the sad fate of being profitless
bunglers in other departments of life.
1t is only by labor that thought can
be made healthy, and only by thought
that labor can be made happy, and the
two cannot be separated with impunity.
1t has been the fashion to separate hand
work from headwork as if the two
were incompatible. One was for labor
ers and mechanics, the other for liter
airy and professional people, but we are
gradually learning that their harmoni-
Gus union is the only means for the per-
lection of either.
The time has come when it would be
well for us to put into the hands of our
boys and girls permanent means of
independence. These benefits cannot
be over-estimated. 1t is no longer only
for the sake of making a good carpenter
or mason, or mechanic, that we should
teach boy the use of tools; nor only to
make good seamstress to use the nee
die or to make bread, but their whole
faculties may be sharpened and
strengthened; that they may become
exact in thinking as well as in doing,
and be faithful to their best conceptions
from the smallest thing in life to the
greatest. When this is fully and eff
GENTLY impressed upon our minds and
upon our hearts an important lesson
will have been learned. Columbus Gd.)
Enquirer.