48 Wisconsm Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



and density on the one hand, and tenacity and malleability on 

 tlie other, to make the blow effective to sha^^e the iron as he 

 will. Man sets his poles and strings his wires and adjusts the 

 comj^onents of his battery and arranges his machine so that by 

 touching a key he can command that subtle force of nature, 

 electi'icity, and make it the bearer of his thoughts to the ends 

 of the earth. Yet in all this, physical labor only moves 

 things ; the forces of nature do the rest. 



But how does the man know what things to move, what 

 kind of motion to give and how to produce that motion so as 

 to accomplish his purpose ? ISTot every putting forth of muscu- 

 lar exertion is effective in producing desired results. Action 

 must be suited to the nature of things and guided by 

 methodical rule. Hence the constant necessity of mental labor 

 to precede and attend the operations of all physical labor. 

 The faculties of the human mind must be tasked in investi- 

 gating the properties and laws of nature, in studying the 

 philosoj)hy of motion itself, to find the mechanical powers, in 

 contriving in detail tlie means or instruments through which 

 the force of nature may be made available, and various 

 motions may be combined on philosophical principles for 

 certain results, and in watching over the actual operations of 

 both the human laborers and the natural agents in the com- 

 plex combination of productive industry. It is plain on the 

 bare statement of it that the mind-work of discovery, inveyition 

 and superintendence is indispensable, an essential part of all 

 productive labor, and that its importance and value, though 

 often overlooked, cannot be overestimated. We say, therefore, 

 of mental labor in this form, that it is directly concerned with 

 all productive industry. We recognize, also, another kind of 

 labor, chiefly mental, which is employed to develop and 

 improve the physical, intellectual, moral and social condition 

 of human beings themselves. The results of this kind of 

 labor affect men individually and collectively, and determine 

 very much their qualities as laborers and the circumstances 



