Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-10
INSTANTANEOUS.
FROM THE AMERICAN FARMER.
COTTON HATS.

Mr.. Skinner-It has been truly and
prettily said, that he, who causes two
spears of grass to grow where only one
before stood, is benefactor of mankind.
The pursuit, in which you, and many
other gentlemen of our country, are en-
gagged, gives you claims to the title Of
benefactors of mankind. The new spi-
rit and zeal in agriculture and in all de-
partmen,s Of husbsndry, which your edi-
torial labors have created, tend thou
sand times more to the good of the COM
munity, than the political chickering's Of
our newspapers. hope the whole
community will continue their attention
to the noble subject of Agriculture; and
that you will long find your pleasure and
profit, in fostering pursuit in which we
are all SO much concerned.
The same feelings and the same mo-
lives, which create the greatest enjoy
ments derived from agricultural pur-
suits, will naturally inspire regard for
every improvement, every invention, and
every institution, in any degree connect
ed with the comfort, convenience, and
prosperity of the farmer aud planter
Hence every art, calculated to consume,
at little cost to the husbandman, the pro-
ducts of his labor, and create demand for
the REPETITION Of his crops and his har-
vests, concerns him al much as the
market price of his wheat. and his corn,
and his cotton in the great shipping
towns; and the more 81, as he may be
assured, that the skill and the labor Of
the artist may also be rewarded, by every
new metamorphosis which the staple
products of his grounds shall undergo.
The farmer produces his wheat, in doing
which his servants or hrelings are sup
ported-the miller, the mill-right, the
lumber merchant, the engineer, the coop
er, the merchant, the baker, and finally
the consumer, all follow in his train
who can look along this list with indif
terence-so ofthe cotton planter. He is
not alone concerned In the destinies of
the tender plant which he so carefully
nurses, and eultivates. Its product at
last interests and occupies the skill and
labor of thousand others. And every
contrivance or discovery, which will con-
sumo the contents of two where that of
one pod or bowl was before consumed,
enhances the value of the commodity to
the grower; so that, in the end, it will
be found there is no natural hostility be-
tween agriculture and the arts employ
ed in applying to various uses its various
products. Indeed what would there be
to inspire the ploughman, if the fruits of
his labor were not to be converted by
artists, into thousand shapes, to adj
minister to the taste and comfort of con-
sumers ? Were it not for the necessities
of others, he would need no more than
the bare supple, for himself; and this
would prove the measure of his industry
and emulation. His fine fields wor.ld
become wilderneses and all his taste
and polish, and all his spirit, would be
transformed into she desires, and habits,
and sensuality ola savage. Sir, the arts
stimulate a ricultural Industry and you
and your girtuous coadjutors, already,
display deep Interest in them. Every
new mobilization of the staples of the
country CO hcern you. Then let me ask
your attention to beautiful invention
for the manufacture of hats from cotton
The hat l had the pleasure of shelving
you the otthr day being in the window
Of the manufacturer, I was struck with
its beauty and walking into the shop in
CURED its Price. My surprize was grea
indeed, onbeing answered, tao dollars
and haF! l did not perceive the rea
son, but my difficulties were all settled
by the Information Of the shop-keeper
Ii is tie cotton hat, said newell, i
looks cutie as handsome as the beaver
will it wear as we'll? Quite as we'll