Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-07-16
From he Southern Cuztirator.
CHOICE A PROFESSION.

it has frequently occurred to US that
ouI young men, on completing their stud
les in our college, mistake the road to use
fulness and comfort in preferIng the study
Of some fashionable profession to the pur-
suits and occupations of rural life. So
soon as young gentleman is admitted 10
the degree Of Bachelorof Arts, his thoughts
are turned on the future, aad perhaps the
first resting place they find is upon the ac-
quirement of professional knowledge of
some kind, which, to him seems the only
road to wealth or distinction. Thus we
see the science ofagricultu;e neglected by
those who are capable of investigating them
as they should be; and every possible in
1ucement to engage in the improvement
of the soil, and to assist nature in what she
is wont TO do for man, is but as feather
in the scale of reasoning And through
fear of adopting some pursuit that is at.
tended with little labor, and as some cal
| it d,qdgc1y, (but which is the greatest con-
ducivc to good healthy resort is had to the
study of some professiOn-which has done
and we fear is doing great injury TO oul
country. We wage no war against pro
LESSONS of any kind on the contrary, they
are indispensable-but it is fact that it is
considered an unpopular step nowadays
for young man on completing his aca-
demic studies and devote his time and tai
ents, if he possess any, TO the advance.
ment of the cause Of Agriculture.
We have before us an Address, deliver.
ed to the young gentlemen admitted to the
degree of Bachelor of Arts, at the first
commencement of the University of Nash.
vile, by its venerable President DIR. Philip
Lindsley-which deserves to be more ex.
tensively circulated than we fear it has beer
and from which we make the following
extract-and shall give pore oft in fu.
ture:
81 know not what are TO be your future
professions or occupations. Every honest
calling ought to be esteemed honorable
| ! address YOU as moral and intellectual be.
Ings-as the patriot citizens Of a great re.
public. You may be merchants, nechan.
les, farmers, manufacturers-and yet be
eminently distinguished and eminently
| III, IL yOu VIII pClSCtFSiO III SCChius
after knowledge and in making proper
use Of it. The Medici-Necker-Ricar
do--were merchants or bankers Frank
lin was a mechanic: Washington was
farmer. BY far the greater part of oul
countrymen are and must be farmers
They must be educated; or, what is tht
same thing, educated men must become
farmers, if they would maintain their jus
influence and ascendency in the state.
cannot wish for the alumni of Cumberland
| College, a more healthfuf independent
useful, virtuous, honorable, patriotic en-
ployment, than that of agriculture. No
is there any condition IN life more tivour
able to the calm pursuits ofseience, philos
ophy and religion and 10 all that previou
training which ultimately constitutes wis
dom and infexble integrity. Should on
college eventually become the grand nurs
cry of intelligent, vlrtuous farmers, sha
esteem it the most highly favoured institu
lion in our country. have long though
that our college graduates often mistaIS
their true path, to honor and usefulness, j
making choice of learned profession, in
stead of converting agriculture into learn
ed profession, as it ought to be. and there
, by obtaining an honest livelihood in th
/ tranquil shades of the country.