270 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
to the ends of the earth. Yet in all this, physical labor only 
moves things ; the forces of nature do the rest. 
But how does the man know what things to move, what 
kind of motion to give and how to produce that motion so as 
to accomplish his purpose ? Not every putting forth of mus¬ 
cular exertion is effective in producing desired results. Ac¬ 
tion must be suited to the nature of things and guided by me¬ 
thodical rule. Hence the constant necessity of mental labor to 
precede and attend the operations of all physical labor. The 
faculties of the human mind must be tasked in investigating 
the properties and laws of nature, in studying the philosophy 
of motion itself to find the mechanical powers, in contriving 
in detail the means or instruments through which the force of 
nature may be made available, and various motions may be 
combined on philosophical principles for certain results, and in 
watching over the actual operations of both the human labor¬ 
ers and the natural agents in the complex combination of pro¬ 
ductive industry. It is plain on the bare statement of it that 
the mind-work of discovery , invention and superintendence is in¬ 
dispensable, an essential part of all productive labor, and 
that its importance and value, though often overlooked, cannot 
be over estimated. We say therefore of mental labor in this 
form that it is directly concerned with all productive industry. 
We recognize also another kind of labor, chiefly mental, which 
is employed to develope and improve the physical, intellectual, 
moral and social condition of human beings themselves. The 
results of this kind of labor affect men individually and col¬ 
lectively, and determine very much their qualities as laborers 
and the circumstances and associations in which they live and 
work. It is thus indvtectly concerned with all departments of 
productive industry. Under this head, may be set down the- 
mother’s nursing and training of her child, the teacher’s efforts, 
the services of the physician, the lawyer, the minister of reli¬ 
gion, the author, the editor and the greater part of the labor 
involved in the administration of government—all that is- 
commonly called professional and official service. 
