The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-05-06

or distorted motions; and no exhaustng
or debIlitatlng any delicate parts of his
system. from confined atmc sphere or
one surcharged with poisonous or deleter-
Gus elements.
The natural and healthful exercise of
the muscular powers, gives vigor and en-
ergy TO the mind; their influence is re-
ciprocaI, their sympathy is indissoluble.
TO render, therefore, the profession of
agriculture respectable-to make it as
productive as it is capable--to further its
mprovement-and to derive from it all
the pleasures and advantages which are
capable of being derived from it or asso-
clated with it, let us see to the improve
ment Of our minds. Let us pursue knowl-
edge with an Unsuitable thirst. Let us
encourage for ourselves and others every
attempt and means to advance the i'm
provemcnt of the intellect. and TO stimu-
late enquiry into every subject and into
all measures that concern us. Let us III
vestIgate for ourselves, and not blndly
receive for granted what ignorance, vice
or sellishness would impose on us. Su-
plnehess and crcdulity may be our ruin.
We may thus convert VIVA. has hitherto
been regarded, and not wholly without
truth, a sordid and degraded profession
into one Ct the highest pursuits of phil
osophy. But do not limit your notions
OF education to the mere teaching of the
schools, and the mere routine Of collegi-
ate discipline. This is comparatively
nothing. The great object of scholastic
institutions and studies, is not so much
the communication of knowledge, as the
teaching men the proper use of their own
facilities IN order to acquire knowledge
for themselves. When men leave their
schools, therefore, the work of education
has scarcely begun. They have learned
only the use OF the tools; they are now
to practice The trade. They must then
educate themselves by combination, or
dcducing from the resources of their own
minds correct judgment Of the opera.
tons of nature Examples are not wanting
, IN our country and in other countries, in
| times past and present, of self-taughtmen,
who have risen TO a high cminence in
| science, while dali occupied in the dis
tracing cares Of life or in The Offices of Il
laborous trade; such examples have
mighty eloquence, and speak in terms of
persuasion which no voice can emulate.
In all these respects, as before said,
the agriculturaIist is particularly favored
Books are attainable in uns,inted album
dance, and objects and facts the only in
lallible teachers, are constantly unfolding
themselves to his observation. Expert
ment is a powerful instructor. Let him
read-let him cnqure-let him try-and
above all, let him observe. Without OBJ
servation Of what falls IN his way, moth
ing will remain fixed in his mind from
which to draw conclusions.
Let him search into the causes of things,
OF supposed benefits, of prevailing ills.
Let him follow Nature into her hiding
places, and if he can compel her to an
swer his inquiries. Nature is sometimes
apparently unwilling TO reveal her mys-
teries, and will often need a king more
than once, and requires urging before she
says anything, and even when she asserts
to yield to persevering efforts, the enquir-
er cannot comprehend her, without divest-
ing himself of all previous artificial and
erroneous Impressions; and this dlvest-
ment is as difficult as the pursuit after and
overhauliag truth. When the profession
thus becomes enlightened, and its simplest
operations are converted into experiments
in philosophy and inquiries after truth,
no pursuit is more respectable or more
happy. Where the man Of cultivated
mind in the performance OF his daily la-
bors, finds sermons in stones, and books
i'll the running streams''-sees every OBJ
jcct and every operation in nature radiant
with the lessons of wisdom, and the mani
festations of bcnevolence as boundlcss as
the universe, and as ccaseless as eternity
in what situation of pursuit is the true
dignity ofhuman nature, as ia. as it rests
upon the exercise and proper use Of the
mind, more illustrated?
| In this as in every other profession and
department of life, there is an honor and
dignity blended with, but far higher than
any Which springs from mere intellectual
improvement, q that have reached the
brightest wreaihs with which philosophy
ever yet was crowned. Without this all
other gems become dim. cannot be I'M
derstood TO mean other than that OF moral
virtue and piety. II has not come i'll my
way to speak Of this. but virtue is the
offspring of truth and pety is only
another name for wisdom. Without
these, in ones own or in Others esti-
nation, no business nor condition of
life can have any true honor. To
these the agricultural pursuit is not
unlricndIy, may I not rather say, to these
no pursuit or profession of life can be
more congenial. The labors of agrcul-
tue tend to allay rather than to stimulate
the passions The seclusion and calm
ness of rural life in active beings are ia