Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-01-21

My object is not to propose to you the
tantalizing pursuit of any new agricultural
humbug, or to recommend any new-fangled
machine or process for the cultivation of old
staple crops it is rather to urge you to re-
fleet on the intellectual condition and habits
Of American Agrcuturists as a class and to
consider how much and how Justly your
moral and political influence, as well as the
actual proceeds of your labor, would be
augmented, and more uniformity in prices
be obtained, by an association to promote
more thorough and systematic investigation
and study of subjects and sciences belonging
or closely allied to your immediate pursuits.
Can it be that you imagine that, because
you have not been regularly trained to civil
or military profession, you may therefore,
without loss or disparagement. leave your
mind to stagnale, like some irreclaimabc
morass, producing nought bnt rank and
noxious weeds; yourselves distinguished, if
at all, like the famed inhabitants of Brota,
for great physical strength and development,
but without any of the spirit Of chivaIry, or
tho arts and graces Of science and civilization |!
Far be from citizens OF IA free Republic, and
especially from filters of American soil, such
ignoble apathy. Look around at all other
vocations, whether their pursuit be upon the
land, or their home upon the deep! All have
formed associations for general inpro-
vement
The HARDY MARINER, boasting any pre-
tensions to accomplishment in the line of his
pursuit, having finished the usual course of
mathematics and navigation, with wcll-s,ored
libraries at his command, delights to begni!c
his long winter nights and tedious Gains ii,
sea in regarding the history and noting the
productions of the various countries he visits,
and the lives and actions Of navIgators and
warriors, who have distinguished themselves
on his favori,e element. In constant exer-
else, amusing or severe, his mind is KEEP,
free from the rust of sloth, and the debilit,
Of inaciiOn.
The SOLDIER, at some military institution
maintained for his instruction by a genera
charge on the community, being early i'm,
hued with elementary knowledge of drawing
gunnery, strategy, Notifications, and all the
death. dealing inventions conirihuory 10 the
srt of attack and defence; acquires and car.
ries with him through life habit of study
and fondness for military memoirs anc
biographies, and works on the science O
manslaughter, for which, unfortunately, tn,
rapacity and injustice of mankind, and tn,
wars they produce, have in all ages s,,pple'
but too many materials. Alas to lend en-
chantmenl to this species of reading, ther
needs not the stimulus Of self interest, o
the habits Of military life there seems I
be in our nature something essentially san
culinary hence the nursery fic1ions of"Raw
head and Bloody-bones," and "Jack tn
Giant-klller," are listened to by Children
"Each trembling hearth with grateful terror quelled
just as, at three score and ten, men rea
with intense avidhy, the bloody realities
the battle field. Who, by the way, is m
sometimes forced to distrust the frmncss ,
his republican croed, when he confessos no,
like the rest Of manking, he is apt to be capt
waited by the glare Of great military achicv,
mentsl Hear tho most celebrated EnglsI
man of this century, even when preparir
to flesh his maiden sword in tho cause
Greece, exclaiming of him whose aim WI
universal dominion,
His prowess shall rank with the first of all ages
And monarchs hereafter shall bow 10 his worth
The songs of the poets-,he lessons of snses-
Shall hold him the wonder and grace OF the cart
T.. nis,eors Of history before thee shall fall
Eclpssd by thy splendaF thou meteor Of GaI