442 [Assembly 



How many conflagrations have been prevented by the devotion to 

 his calling of the sooty and despised chimney sweep, while thou- 

 sands of dollars have been rescued from filth and nothingness, by the 

 industry of the degraded chiffonier.* 



Now, a great part of the wealth of the community consists in its 

 physical labor. "Labor is wealth." The manufacturer, the artizan, 

 the builder, all depend upon the skill and strength of those employed 

 to do their work. Who then will say that labor of the most insig- 

 nificant kind should not be protected, improved and facilitated, that 

 the laborer of the smallest capacity should not be strengthened to the 

 utmost, by careful training and education? It very often happens 

 that almost the minutest muscles of the human body (those of the 

 hands and fingers) are those which perform the most important and 

 delicate work; so do we frequently find the most essential part of a 

 magnificent structure, as of an engine, or a building, requires the 

 labor of the poorest and roughest operative. Sou;.d vigorous health 

 is an essential pre-requisite to the proper performance of all labor. 



The following passage from an author before quoted,f written for 

 an analogous sulpject, is so directly applicable, so appropriate to my 

 purpose, and so forcible, that no apology will be required for its 

 length. 



" This subject has merits which should command the attention of 

 the statesman and political economist. All investments to preserve 

 or increase the public health, would be reimbursed many fold, in an 

 increased capacity for production. One of the most important items 

 in a nation's wealth, consists in the healthlulness and vigor enjoyed 

 by its people. All agriculturists and manufacturers must feel the 

 force of this remark in regard to their own workmen; and they would 

 feel it still more, if they were obliged, at their own expense, to sup- 

 port those workmen during all periods of sickness or incapacity to 

 labor; and this is the relation in which the State stands to its citi- 

 zens. It has been said by some writers on political economy, that 

 from one-seventh to one-eighth of all the wealth of a country origin- 

 ates in the labor of each year. Hence, if any nation or community 

 should cease from production for seven or eight years, the whole of 

 its wealth — houses, lands, goods, money — would be consumed. What 



• As an instance of the perseverance and frugality of this class of operatives, I was 

 lately informed of one, who by his dirty trade, has amassed $400, which he was about 

 investing in Wes'ern lamb, llumlieds of these people derive a good support from 

 the business in this city. 



\ Hon. Horace Mann.— Sixth AniiUal Report of the Board of Education of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



