170 Incombustible Wash. 
oretical and practical men has arisen. Fortunately there are many 
of the former who attend properly to the improvement of imperfect 
theory by practice ; and many calling themselves practical who 
seize with avidity all that theory can do for them, and who knew 
that, step by step, theory has been making her way with giant 
strides into the territory of practice, for the last century and a 
half * * *"* * * * * * * 
" The distinction of labors in the field of science or art is not 
strictly a just one, for there is no theorist whose knowledge is all 
theory ; and there is no practical man whose skill is all derived 
from experience.'^ 
" The practical man, when he is really nothing more, is one who 
can just do what he has been taught to do, who has acquired skill 
and judgment in a small range of occupations. All who pride 
themselves upon the title, would be displeased at this definition, 
and we readily admit that many of them are entitled to a higher 
character, but only because the name by which they delight to de- 
scribe themselves is a wrong one. They desire under the name 
of a workman, to claim the qualities of a master. The term the- 
oretical, serves as one of contempt to designate any thing of which 
they disapprove," ******* 
'• There is also a method of viewing what we may call the 
action of theory, which is absolutely necessary to a true concep- 
tion of the value of their labors, who employ time in its advance- 
ment. Watch the arguments of a person who calls himself, dis- 
tinctively a practical man, and it will always be found that a well 
established theory fifty years old, is practical knowledge, so called.'' 
Lenox, 2d of Feb., 1848. 
Incombustible Wash. — Slake some stone-lime in a large tub or 
barrel, with boiling water; cover the same up, to keep in all the 
steam. When thus slaked, pass six quarts of it through a fine 
sieve. It will be then in a state of fine flour. Now, to six quarts 
of this lime add a quart of salt and one gallon of water; then boil 
the mixture, and skim it clean. To every five gallons of this 
mixture add one pound of alum, half a pound of copperas by slow 
degrees, three-quarters of a pound of potash, and four quarts of fine 
sand or hardwood ashes sifted. This mixture will admit of any 
coloring matter you please, and may be applied with a brush. It 
looks better than paint, and is as durable as slate. It will stop 
small leaks in the roof, prevent the moss from growing over and 
rotting the wood, and render it incombustible from sparks falling 
upon it. When laid upon brick-work, it renders the bricks im- 
pervious to rain or wet. 
