The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-11-07

Oh skill and power was not the sordid hone
OF winning merely prize of gold, but ,
hlgher and nobler aim of exceliing in wbat
is useful and excellent, and gaining that
meed OF praise, which should ever crown
| him who does well.
This was, therefore, in every resnect an
interesting spectacle, and even the disan.
pointed competitors will carry with them
The assurance, that it was because the
committee had no other premium to rive
| ana not that they were undesery;n1 OF
them, that every one who entered the lists
this day does not carry with him the nrize
tor which he commended, SO well. and so
ably. 1-'' %
When we have witnessed, on former oc-
casions, the success which has attended
some OF the competitors in those exbibj-
tons of skill and power. we have hcen a.
most ready to doubt the infallbi]ifv Of
foor richards often quoted opinion, that
He, who by the plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive"
though we were satisfied, upon moments
objection, that it was liable to fewer ex-
ceptlons than most other proverbs. in use.
IN the country. And though a Cincinna
tus, or Dioclesian, may lay aside the
sceptre OF power, to enjoy the delights of
a rural lie, and we need not 90 back to
Rome or foreign States for examples like
these, yet the farmer will find "Poor Rich
ard" better guide than were the success
OF a few, whose industry in other depart
ments has been crowned with merited sue
cess.
The committee ought, perhaps, to saw
one word more upon the character of the
ploughs used this day.
Perhaps in no department of agriculture
have there been so great improvements as
10 the construction and mode of using
ploughs. They seem to have kept pace
with the Improvements in society. and the
degree of refinement and intelligence in a
nation can almost be determined by the
condition of their implements of aGricul-
ture. And 1t IS not among the least inter-
estlng OF the hopes connected with the
promised millennium, that the sword shall
be beaten into the ploughsharc, whether
we regard the comfort of man, or the re-
uhement and happiness of society. Ger
many, that could not support 100000 war
rlors, now supports, i'll ease and plenty, a
million OF husbandmen and artifcers.
w ile husbandry. ploughs, and society
shall improve together, we hope no I'M
necessary patent right will check the pro
gress of either, and that our American So
ciety will stop before, like some Europeans,
we learn "to plough with a heifer," or
adopt the double moulded visage and as
pect of some of the models of ploughs
which we have formerly seen exhibited,
which no one knows how to face, nor TO
LeH by tl.oir traolE which. lixoot;oa 4ha,, ,,
pursuing.
The spirit of Improvement in this de-
partment of husbandry, is indeed crafty
ing, and while the Frenchman and Span
lard drag their unshapely ploughs by the
horns of their oxen, we may rejoice that
the intelligence of our free yeomanry is as
much in advance of that Of their slavish
Doors, as the skill Of our artisans and our
husbandmen surpasses that of most of the
continental nations. Nor need we fear
decline Of public spirit and intelligence
and virtue, till Ploughing Matches shall no
longer excite interest, till Yankee mechan-
ics can no longer construct good Ploughs,
Worcester county Farmers be found to
guide, Or Sutton Teams to draw them.
Respectfully submitted,
EMORY WASHBURN, Chairman.