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scientific improvements to labor itself will thus more and more press on 
them from all sides, and, being better informed yearly, they will dis- 
cover quicker and further their own true interests ; and, in connexion 
with them, the vastness of the changes going on in their favor. And we 
need no stronger evidence how this is influencing the whole operations 
of our social system, and elevating the working classes so as to appreciate 
it, than to remember that man is sometimes distinguished from other 
beings by calling him “ a tool-using animal,” and that it is in these tools — - 
in labor-saving machinery — the greatest advances have been made; thus 
enabling, not merely one person to perform the work of two in some 
branches of business, and of hundreds in others — maintaining, in this 
mode, a population both larger and better — but that while science has 
helped in this way to quadruple manufactures, facilitate commerce, and 
greatly improve agriculture, these very additions have, in their turn, 
caused still further ones, and enabled all benefitted by them more libe- 
rally to reward, not only labor, but the efforts of science herself, and thus 
increase her progress ; acting and reacting till no limit can be assigned to 
her advancement in the long vista of the future, except what grows out 
of the finite character of the human faculties, the shortness of human 
life, and the imperfections of every thing earthly. The nature of man 
is well known not to be changed by this, and by most of us is not ex- 
pected to be ; but the great difference is, that the means of progress 
here have, in many things, become so wonderfully advanced by scien- 
tific improvements, we may justly unite with him who pronounces 
science to be “the mightiest Titan now beneath the skies;” and well 
hope that his — 
“ march is onward, onward, to impart 
Some Archimedean power that yet the world may start. ” 
Whole orders could now more easily be maintained in devotion to 
scientific pursuits, than a few individuals could be formerly; and in 
this way, beside the increased attention of millions occasionally to sug- 
gest and advance improvements, many are enabled to make it the 
permanent business of their lives, and perfect more, and invent more, 
what shall not only enlarge the boundaries of science, but the do- 
minion of man over rough nature — subjugating all the elements around 
him, faster to promote the comforts, the wealth, and glory of the hu- 
man race. Whatever may have been the case once, our people are 
now beginning to rise above the indulgence of any narrow preju- 
dices as to this; for they see that persons, employed like these last 5 
