1836.]. 



t' A 11 M E R S • REGISTER. 



273 



possessing the dignity of rational, immortal and 

 accountable creatures. 



Let a system of education make provision for 

 nothing but what is elevated and useful, and still 

 space enough will be leli for all the frivolity and 

 sporting which any can deem to be absolutely es- 

 sential. These thmgs will take care of themselves, 

 and will inevitably come in, on any plan that may 

 be adopted, to secure all the advantages vvhich 

 they arc capable of affording. 



Another objection which has been preferred to 

 manual labor schools is, Vutt they contribute but 

 little or nothing to the support of the student. 



The truth on this subject, as could be satisfacto- 

 rily shown is, that, as miglit naturally be expect- 

 ed, manual labor schools, being a novel experi- 

 ment in this country, have had to struggle, as do 

 all similar enterprises of benevolence at the outset, 

 with formidable obstacles; and in some ins'tances, 

 through injudiciousness in their location, or mis- 

 management ill their arrangements, have either 

 been abandoned, or have failed to fulfil the expec- 

 tations of their projectors. Mercantile and other 

 adventurers often fail in their plans. At the same 

 time it is undeniable, that some institutions of this 

 sort have succeeded beyoml all previous calcula- 

 tions, and the students that composed them have 

 not only enjoyed better health than others, and 

 made more rapid advances in knowledge, but a 

 portion of them have, by the avails of their labors, 

 defrayed thi whole of their expenses; a few have 

 done more; and a aiajority have diminished them 

 about one-half. Manual labor establishments, 

 therefore, wilf do sometJiing (we ought not to ex- 

 ])ect them to do every thing,) towards cheapening 

 education, even in the infancy of their existence; 

 and the thought can hardly fail to be cheering to 

 American re|)ublicans and patriots, that in the full 

 tide of successful operation which we believe will 

 attend their maturer age, "lull man}' a flower" 

 which but lor ihem would be "born to bloom and 

 blush unseen,"' will shed its "sweetness on" Co- 

 lumbia's "air." 



But admit for a moment that manual labor 

 schools are an utter lailure as regards the pecunia- 

 ry ddvantagss which they afford. Admit, it you 

 please, that the manual labor feature is an expen- 

 sive part of education, and that to comply with it, 

 an education will cost more than on any other 

 ))lan. The argument for their utility remains alike 

 unanswered and unshaken. Is not the education 

 thus obtained a more perfect one? Is it not im- 

 mensely more valuable? Are health, morals, use- 

 ful habits, vigorous intellects, and life, worth no- 

 thing? Is money expended for the improvement 

 and preservation of these thrown away? 



If manual labor schools increased the expenses 

 of education fourfold, they would stilt deserve the 

 warm patronage of the public, and all who have 

 the ability should send their sons to them to be 

 educated, in preference to any other institutions, 

 even should thc.y have as many ol tliem as the patri- 

 arch, or be endowed with the riches of Crcesus. 



It is an ill-judged economy which saves money 

 at the sacrifice of lite, health, and morals. Let 

 this subject be widerstood by an intelligent and 

 Christian community, and manual labor schools 

 will not be left to languish and die without endow- 

 ments, while on other institutions of less substan- 

 tial claims, they are lavished with a princely mu- 

 nificence. 



Vol. IV— 35 



In this place, it may not be amiss to attend for 

 a short time, to the testimony of some of the pu- 

 pils and superintendents of manual labor schools, 

 who have detailed the results of their observation 

 and experience, and which is strong and decided 

 in their favor. 



In one instance the pupils say, that "believing 

 the results of experiment weightier than theory, 

 we beg leave respectfully to express those convic- 

 tions respecting the [)lan of our institution, vvhich 

 have been created solely bj' our own experience 

 in its details. L We are convinced that the gene- 

 ral ))lan is practicable. 2. That the amount of 

 labor required (three hours per day) docs not ex- 

 ceed the actual demands of the human system, 

 3. That this amount of labor does not retard the 

 progress of the student, but by preserving and 

 augmenting his physical energies, does eventual- 

 ly facilitate it. 4* That the legitimate cflect of 

 such a system upon body and mind, is calculated 

 to make men hardy, enterprisiuir and independent; 

 and to wake up within them a spirit pcrseverering- 

 ly to do, and endure, and dare. 5. Though the 

 experiment at every step of its progress has been 

 seriously embarrassed with difficulties, neither tew 

 in number nor inconsiderable in magnitude, aa 

 those know full well who have experienced them, 

 yet it has held on its way till the entire practica- 

 bility of the plan stands embodied in actual de- 

 monstration. In conclusion, (they add,) we deem 

 it a privilege, while tendering this testimony of 

 our experience, to enter upon the record our un- 

 wavering conviction, that the principle which has 

 been settled by this experiment involve.? in its 

 practical developments an immense amount of 

 good to our world; it is demanded by the exi- 

 gences of this age of action, when ardor is breath- 

 ing for higher attempt, and energy wakes to 

 miohtier accomplishment." 



On a subsequent occasion another set of pupils 

 belonging to the same instiiution, express their 

 convictions in a similar tone of approbation. 



"The influence of the system," llicy say, "on 

 health, is decidedly beneficial, as all of us can tes- 

 tify who have pursued it for any length of time. 

 We can pursue our studies not only without inju- 

 ry, but with essential advantage. Not only is our 

 bodil}^ power increased instead of being diminish- 

 ed on this plan, but the powers of the mind are 

 aufrmented, while moral sensibility is not blunted 

 by hours of idleness and dissipation. V/e suH'er 

 no loss of time, as no more is spent in labor than 

 is usuallj' spent by students in recreation; ;ind we 

 are taught to improve every hour. Our opinion 

 is, that intellectual progress is accelerated rather 

 than retarded by this .system. In its success, Ave 

 are convinced, is deeply involved the pro.'^i)erity 

 of education, and the great work of evangelizing 

 the world.'" 



The students of Cumberland Colledge in the 

 State of Kentucky, say, we beg leave to state the 

 results of our own experience. Having been for 

 a considerable time, members of a manual labor 

 institution, we have had an exhibition of its prin- 

 ciples and efficacy continually before us; and we 

 are convinced that labor, fov two hours or more 

 each day, is essential to the health of all close 

 students, and equally necessary for the develop- 

 ment of the mind." 



The young men in the theological institution 

 at Hamilton, in the State of New York, say, 



