Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-02-06
Thinking and Working

Mauy people, workmen as we'll ts 0thersi
fell into the error of supposiUg that TO brein
work is necessary or desirable in mechanical
labor. = is found that by eoiog through q
certain number of physioa operaticra, the
manufactured product is turned out; tea;
these movements bscome. sfLer time, SO
easy that they are performed almost eulc-
natically, and that it is only By practice
that perfection is eltained. For thete rea.
sous il is though. that ell person needs In
his work Ia the education CT the eye, ear or
hard, and that. by the trsioiDg OF aey, or
all OF tieee, q psrson arrives ct the prchcen-
cy which il Indicated By the term skilled F"
I. il u.donbtc6y true that 10 amount OF
tbinkioe .ili enable tho etee:-wofker to tell
when the metal is heated to the proper de-
gree, apd that it Ia only by the readiness OF
the eve in detecting the hast by the color
that proficiency Ia shis direction is acquired.
No smcunt OF brsiu work Can take tho piece
of that exquisite sense OF touch which ena.
bles the fis-maker to make the lines upon
his steel 80 uuU Ueroui that they can scarcely
ba counted by the uos!ded eye No amount
o, learning can locate for the engineer the
defective working in fis engine which bis
acute aanse Of hearing discovers, end in very
many other lines of industry the degree OF
accuracy which is attained, soleiy by con
stsnt repetition of the work, is very won
derul.
The question is, however. whether. in
these very departments. the meobsnic
gouid not increase his Velue, both 10 him.
ssIf and employer, we're he 10 think whlle
performing his work. l. ts certain that be
would, by the use oi his mind moro perfect,
ly, honor the nature OF which be is p0ssess-
cd. The power to think is given oy come
writers as the Distinguishing characteristic
which divides man fron tbs brute creation.
and, il this be true, 1t ought not to satisfy
eny o1e that he is sbe TO perform bis
wo,k 10 thst pefunc,ory manner In which
the horse walks in the tresdnill. II hs
does no more than this, be is SO entomat C
mschlue, which needs only to be wound cp
and set in motion iG order for il to perform
the work fer Rhion 1t was made. Il is this
sto!id satisfaction with which one regards
the product cf his labor, which prevents
many from batteripg their condition and
from becoming OF any other value to their
day and generation than that which is esti-
mated by the daily output OF their hsndi-
work.
We do not think that man should de-
spiss his work, or that he should be satis-
fed with anything short OF his utmost csps-
biities In this direction, but we do believe
! that workmen, while they continue In the
| foundry or shop, should be valuable MEM
oers of society, By reason of their intelii-
gence and influence. They need not gradu.
ate from their trade TO be as much esteem
ed as any other class ofpersons. In addition
to this duty that he owes to society, the
Is.I- ;o
by the exercise of his mind while at work
that he may devise an Improvement 10 mo.
chinery or q new use for material which will
be an advantage to all, at the same time that
Ii materially advances his pecuniary inter-
ests. There Is no place better adapted to
the exercise Of inventive talent than the
workshop and DO man can use 1t to better
advantage than he who, by his practical
knowledge, knows whst can and what can
not be accomplished by combination OF the
FIVE mechanical powers.
Had all workmep labored only with their
muscle, and allowed their minds to be inact-
I've, the world would not now be reaping the
benefits or enjoying the pleasures OF many
of the mechanical inventions of our day.
Neither is there anything In the peculiar
surroundings Of mechanics which prevents
them becoming ae intelligent as any other
cisss in the community. 1t Is not possible,
| nor indeed desirable. for men to take books
| with them at their work. IS Elihu Burritt
did; but, by iudicious course OF reading af.
ter working hours they may acquire food
for re -c'ion which will keep their minds
active throughout the day Thought rules
the world, and VIC see no reaeon why the Ia
boring classes should rot be as regal rulers
In this eense as any. Thinking and work
ing combined will make of them 8 power,
and will 90 cheoae ;beir poation that the
possession OF wealth spd honor snd iniu.
ence will no longer be blessings 10 be enjoy
ed hy an exceptional lew Of their number.-
| Industrial WorId.