Analytical Third Reader

Ocean, and thus is involved the commerce of two hemispheres.

John. You don't call commerce mechanics, do you?

Geo. I mean to say that all transactions of commerce are carried on directly by the aid of mechanics, in one form or another. But you see you have not yet got to mill with your grist.

John. I protest against all this machinery you talk about as a necessity to the farmer. The farmer can carry on his business in a more old-fashioned way, without reapers and threshing machines, or even a mill to grind his grain.

Geo. How, pray tell me, could you produce a loaf of bread without a mill to grind your grain ?

John. I could pound the grain in a mortar. Geo. Suppose you did that, where would you get your mortar?

John. I would make it myself.

Geo. Then you would turn mechanic to make your mortar; but even then, what would you make it with?

John. I'll admit you make a good point there. But I could rub the grain between

two stones.

Geo. That's true enough, you could rub

some kernels of grain between two stones, provided the mechanic would help you raise the grain. But it strikes me you are not making much progress in bread-making.

John. But suppose we reverse this business, and see how you, as a mechanic, would succeed without the help of the farmer. If there were no agricultural labor, pray tell me where you would get the bread, butter, or anything else with which to feed the mechanic? Besides, where would be the necessity of plows, harrows, harness, reapers, and mills!

Geo. It seems to me you are begging the question, as they say. You will recollect that you started off with the proposition that "agriculture is really the only independent business one can be engaged in," and "that everything depends upon the farmer." Now I am willing to admit that in any advanced state of society, there is a mutual dependence between mechanics and farmers. But I think I have shown you that a person cannot in any way engage in agriculture, without the assistance of the mechanic.

John. Well, admit this to be so, I suppose you will acknowledge also that the mechanic cannot live without the aid of the husbandman?

Geo. Not exactly. I have already intimated that in civilized society the relations of the two are those of mutual dependence; but if you go back to savage life, you will find that the savage, with his mechanical skill, can make his bows and arrows, fish-hooks, and such implements as are necessary to capture the fish of the seas and the wild beasts of the forest, and thus actually obtain a livelihood, as thousands are now doing. Still, a farmer can't live even the life of a savage; the mechanic must help him or he will starve.

John. I must confess, George, that you have made out a better case for the mechanic than I had supposed possible. It is fair to admit, however, that there is a mutual dependence between all branches of honest industry.

Geo. That is no doubt the truth of the matter; and the higher the state of civilization the greater the dependence becomes.

LIBR

UNIVERSITY

CALIFORTI

ADDITION TABLE.

1+1 1+2 1+31 +41 +51 +61 +7 1+8 1+9

2+1 2+2 2+32 +4 2+52+6 2+7 2+8

3+1 3+2 3+3 3 +43 +5 3+63+7