On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
From the means which we have of obtain ing correct information upon almost every question, we are fully persuaded that we have very few, intelligent mechanics in our country ill proportion to the amount of population, and their own numbers. We are sorry to say this, but the truth compels us to do it. This should not be, for the means are abundant whereby they can obtain information to make them respected for every mental qualification. The desire, however, must exist in the mind, and it is for the want of this desire—this mental quality—to read good works and study good authors, that so much ignorance abounds.— Instead of reading use ful periodicals and books, the great majority of them are delighted with the flashy stories and flippant literature of authors whose names and fame will never leach above nor beyond the very garbage of bookdom. On our advertisement page there are two advertisements for men capable of conducting two separate trades ; the one a practical chemist for dying and finishing woolen goods; the other a practical macliinist. We know it is not easy to find a person who has toiled as a hard working mechanic in possession of the means required in the ad vertisement for the managing machinist, and this is the reason why such an advantageous offer is presented. This very fact should teach our mechanics how much it would be for their own benefit to employ their leisure hours in acquiring useful information, and obtaining such a mastery of their trades as to be able to conduct the same, and thus be ready to ascend to higher situations whenever opportunities like those on our advertising page are presented. We have frequent applications lor practical intelligent mechanics who can superintend a business, and we know from experience how difficult it is to obtain them. Every man who works at a trade, no matter what that trade is, should learn it so thorough! y as to be competent to conduct the same in all its branches. Every mechanic should strive to be m aster of his business. There is philosophy in every trade, and why sho uld not carpenters, tailors, machi niste, dyers, millwrights, coopers, &c., be as intelligent as doctors, lawyers, and merchants There is no me, as many mechanics do, of complaining about the aristocracy of this and that class ; it is worse than foolishness; the aristocracy of mind is higher than that of wealth, and always commands respect. A gentleman writing to us some time ago, for a machinist to superintend his foundry and machine shop, said he would give him above $-2,000 per annum, but would be willing to give more could he get the proper person. “ I want a good mechanic,” was his language “ arid a gentleman, one who is courteous, intelligent, and with whom I can associate as a friend” The elevation of our working men is one object about which we are solicitous; we have often preached about it through these columns, and will continue to do so upon every proper occasion. It has been our object to present a chaste literature along with scienti- tific and other useful information, but our circulation is only among the most intelligent of our mechanics. consequently the great mass for w hom our remarks of this kind are designed will not see them. We will, however, thank those who do read them to talk upon the subject from time to time with their brother craftsmen, in order that they may feel the force of the old adage, “ knowledge is power,” and many be led to see the error and foolishness of their ways, and adopt a course of life which will lead them to ascend to the front ranks of I utelligent Mechanics.
