192 Evolution of the Mechanic Arts. 



Doubtless our topic omits the static side of mechanics 

 in treatment, while it preserves it in memory, and confines 

 itself to the dynamic side of mechanics. But we may 

 properly take a brief glance, first, at man, the mechanic 

 Avho is to run the shop, for the purpose of giving him a 

 ''Civil Service Examination" as to his qualification for his 

 work ; and, second, at the world considered as his workshop, 

 for the purpose of taking a quasi inventoiy of the materials 

 and forces with which he is to do his work. 



Without man, the mechanic, the world-shop would have 

 been useless, and would have gone to wildness and waste. 

 Considered merely as an organized and vitalized machine, 

 he is, in himself and alone, a most fit and rich subject for 

 many essays. The soundest principles of construction, 

 endurance, economy, capacity and variety are illustrated in 

 his body, Avhich, according to evolutionary theories, both in 

 its individual and racial history, has been built up from a 

 single cell, to and with which other cells have been added, 

 integrated, differentiated and specialized, until it has become 

 a machine of marvelous efficiency and power, operated by 

 the consumption and at the cost of the smallest amount of 

 material or fuel, made capable at the same time, for long 

 periods, of making its OAvn repairs, supplying its own local 

 loss of substance, and to some extent of organs, keeping 

 all its parts lubricated and in working condition. It is, in 

 fact, a pattern piece of automatic mechanism, that is to the 

 skilled mechanic an object of profound wonder, interest, 

 instruction and suggestion. All other forms of animal life 

 also have their mechanical structures and relations to the 

 world, all of which are of profound interest and great 

 value ; and many of which show greater special poAvers 

 than any that are given to man. In fact, when we consider 

 the size and strength of many animals still extant, as well 

 as of those that formerly existed, their teeth, their claws, 

 their ferocious natures, their special superiorities, the won- 

 der is that man and his lineage ever survived in the contest 

 with the wild beast and with the still stronger forces of 

 Nature itself. Mr. Kimball has already taught us, in his 

 admirable essay, that, notwithstanding these, and all tlie 

 terrible implements of war forged by man, and even in 

 accordance with natural and necessary law, the meek are to 

 inherit the eartli. Biit we may still be permitted to inquire 

 a little more fully into the genesis of the title to that 

 inheritance. 



