gQ Suggestions to Mechanics^ &c., &c. [Feb., 



sented to us by those who have devoted their life to study, and bave 

 placed the fruits of their labor before the world. The mechanic can 

 get the general principles of all the sciences, which would have a 

 tendency to elevate him in the scale of society, by a little extra ex- 

 ertion in the way of econoiuizing his leisure hours. 



One dollar a month will, if rightly applied, purchase all the books 

 and papers that the mechanic can profitably peruse and digest, and 

 furnish a fund of information that would astonish a person who is 

 not in the habit of reading. I will venture to say, that two-thirds 

 of the mechanics of this country spend twice that sum in a way that 

 is not only profitless, but positively injurious. 



The mechanic will find a course of proper reading not only inter- 

 esting and recreative, but he will find it a money-making business. 

 The well-read mechanic will always command at least one-third 

 hiaher wages than those who do not read, unless to peruse some 

 ' love sick ' romance, filled with disgusting nonsense. I never 

 heard of an inventor who was not well read in the general principles 

 of the sciences. I think such a one would be a great anomaly. The 

 reading mechanic is much more observant of passing events, than the 

 anti-reader. When something is read that is new to him, he takes' 

 the first opportunity to see if the book or paper told him true ; and 

 so he accumulates ideas, and many new ones (to him at least) may 

 originate from his brain. 



The free laborino; mechanic is the steam engine of the world ; 

 then how necessary that all its parts be well fitted, so that the gov- 

 ernor. Science, may have full control of the mighty structure. The 

 mechanic may, and I believe yet will, take his place among the high- 

 est in society. He does not yet see what he may be, if he will only 

 make the trial. Then arouse, brother mechanics ! and commence a 

 course of reading in the Arts and Sciences, and I will wager a vol- 

 ume of The Inventor, that you will not regret it. It will bring in- 

 formation to your mind, health to your body, and money to your 

 pocket. It will give you a character among men, that will enable 

 you to stand with the proudest of them. It will give you the power 

 to converse readily on different topics which may come up before, 

 you when in company or elsewhere. Now is a good time to begin ; 

 the long evenings are close at hand. Get the right kind of books 

 and journals, and I will warrant, you will find it to be a paying op- 

 eration at the end of the year. Hammer. 



Hartford, Conn., Sept. loth, 1856. 



