ADMIT OF CULTIVATION. 75 



therefore, there is probably nothing that we can dis- 

 cover so as to improve it, and in the other there is 

 nothing which we do discover. All that we know 

 of these two senses is, that their acuteness of per- 

 ception is always in proportion to the wholesome- 

 ness of the state of the body ; and therefore, study 

 them as we will, we can derive from them only one 

 lesson, and that, too, merely a surface lesson a les 

 son as palpable to the man who knows not a letter 

 as to him who is most deeply read in all the sciences. 

 Yet that surface lesson is one of great importance 

 and value. We should be regular, and preserve our 

 health, because that is the only way in which we can 

 make sure that nature will smell sweetly and taste 

 deliciously ; and even that is a secret worth knowing. 



Of all the human powers, the hand is perhaps that 

 which admits of the most education, because its 

 education is twofold it may be educated in 

 knowing, and it may be educated in doing. The 

 education of the hand in doing is a matter of ob- 

 servation, and any one hand can improve either upon 

 other hands or upon itself; but still that improve- 

 ment in performance is grounded upon improvement 

 of the hand in knowledge ; and of its process in 

 knowing we know about as little as we do of that of 

 the palate in tasting, or of the nose in smelling. It 

 consists but of one process the contact of one sub- 

 stance with another ; and the most acute observation 

 cannot divide that into parts so as to obtain a more 

 intimate acquaintance with it ; and whenever we can 

 no further divide or analyze, we come to the ultimate 

 fact, and can know no more than simply that it is. 



And yet the education of the hand in knowing, and 

 the state to which it may be brought by circum- 

 stances, are very wonderful, and in some instances 

 would appear almost incredible. The hand of the 

 blacksmith is so educated as to handle iron that would 

 burn, and the hand of the sailor is so educated that 

 it can glide safely along a rope which would cut any 

 other person to the bones. 



