Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-10-20
AN ADDRBSS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE WISDnAM County
AGRIcuLTuRAL SOCIETY, OcroBER, 1913.
BY REV. d. II. RANNEY.

calling Of the working glasses, and 10 guide tc
the most profitable issue their investments Tc
the former Of these designs shall find il neccs-
sary mainly to speak, rs am, to no considerable
extent, a practical, much less a scientific farmer
but for me TO sly ] am not Interested in that
employment, or that do no, regard il with the
highest consideration, would be 10 exhibit an ~
noble scorn for the business Of my earlier aud
hnppiest years, and an employment to which ]
have re .cssarily, Of late, been driven for the
| restoration and maintenance OF confirmed health
should he as ungratcful, rs ] should appear
unwise, should j show no enthusiasm in discours-
ing on this topic. And farther, indifference to-
wards Il would exhibit, on my part very in.
adequate conception Of the true grounds Of sue
cess in my professional calling. No friend OF
humanity, or well wsher to his country, (much
less an enlightened teacher Of morality and re-
| ligion,) can regard with Indifference the efforts
that are making 10 render more honorable and
moro lucrative, the labors of the Workshop and
the field. From them we derive all our individ-
ual resources the food VIC cat, the clothing we
wear, and the dwellings which shelter us. And
likewise, our means Of happiness and improve
mcnt --our books our schools, and our church.
esi our facilities for travelling for observation
aud social intercourse. They are also the sour
ees OF national wealth, prosperity and greatness.
No man but he who has caused the earth to pro-
!
or from the use Of his mind, or the employment
of his hands, has added something to the real
resources Of the country, can lay any true claims
to the character Of a good ciiisen. The Phihn-
thropist and the active Christian, draw all their
supplies from the same prolific source Here we
find sprnging up all those streams of boncfccnce
which are fast watering, refreshing and adjoining
the moral wastes Of the earth.
Yet, strange as it may seem, the business of
the laborer has been condemned. Ii is esteemed
degrading by the proud and insolent, viewed as
secondary by the learned and refined, considered
mental by the soft handed tradcsman and in.
deed all who have found il easier, and more con-
genial to their false tastes, TO get living by their
learning, or their wits, than by the labor Of their
hands, have conspired together 10 undervaluc,
and east odium upon mechanical and egricultu-
raj pursuits. We could look with forbearance,
yea, with silent and calm contempt on this error,
IL It were harmless. The laboring man might des-
pise the spirit It exhibits, il the drones which in
dulsc il could pass quietly on their way, turning
up their noses at the rustic habits and homespun
attire Of those who feed and clothe them. But
their influence is blighting and pesticrous.
Their feelings are contagious, and, in spite Of us,
sometimes infest the bosoms OF our sons and our
daughters whom We are anxious TO possess Of q
sounder philosophy. The idea has been quite
generally obtained that the individual who sub
mits 10 manual lnbor, th4 seeans Of his support,
tacitly admits his intellectual inferiority. That
he acknowledges, by the ac, that he was formed
by bis Creator to be the mental servant of his
more gifted brother. Our aspiring youth scorn
such an admission. They contrive some way 10
dohf the sun burnt palm leaf, and striped frock,
which are the despised habiliments Of a reputed
ignoble calling, assuming garb and adopting
habits which they conceive to pertain to higher
rank and social elevation. Parents, to great
extent have been seized Of the same mania
They do not wish to reduce their sons and
daughters TO the spurn of "hewers of wood and
drawers Of water" They therefore crowd them
into the learned professions, or into counting
rooms, and warehouses. Their daughters must
be "faShonables," and therefore become helpless
and ie0rthiess, as respects all useful employments.
WHY is all this u the acquisition OF wealth
more general with professional men than with
well informed industrious farmers and mechan-
les? Or are the former, as class, more indie
pendent, prosperous and happy No one, with
his eyes open, can believe this. What then is
the cause? The child and the parent are flat.
tered with the idea that thus the primal curse is
TO be escaped, and degrading seryitude avoided.
Poor victims of the strangest infatuation II
such are the reasons for throwing away so much
money on what Is often misnamed an education,
the child had better been q slave al the oar at
first, because there he would have been some
thing of blessing at least, but now he is not
only useless but perhiciotis.
IL Is a fact that none can overlook or deny,
that thus multitudes Of young men are crowded
into places for which they have no fitness, and
into callings where they arc not wanted, and
where they cannot succeed. The result is they
are useless to society, a curse to themselves and
burden to their friends, which they would, but
cannot, shake of. They cannot succeed where
they are, and they will not attempt success in
callings to which they are adapted
So also with our daughters. There is every
reason TO fear that feelings which emanate from
the atmosphere OF wealth and false refinement
from the idleness, the pomp, and empty mot to
say vcious) designations Of cities and populous
places, are difiusng themselves over the eoun-
try, and penetrating bosoms which should be sa.
cred TO boiler aspirations
1t is time that check be put to this most ir.
rational and mischievous spirit And no where
can so efiectual remedy be found as in carry
ing out the objects Of Societies like this. Let ui
look for moment at the wisdom and Justice oil
sentiments and feelings such as have been DIES
cnbed Whetherwe bring them to the tribunal
of human, or Divine wisdom, they are equally
condemned The wisest and the best Of mer
have decided differently, both by precept ant
example. In ancient times, how many ofpatri
archal renown, and senatorial dignity, were hus
|
as honorable as they found il profitable and indie
pendent Agriculture became thus early sci
ence, so far as their limited knowledge allowed
Rome's great Poet honored husbandry with hi
Songs-and her most renowned Statesman fol
lowed the plough This employ ment has no
only the sanction Of Abel and the Patriarchs
Of Virgil and Cincinnatus, but the sacred sea
Of Jehovah himself When God created man
lie made him not clustered student, schem
ing speculator, nor Doctor Of Laws, of Mcdi
cine, or Divinity; but iiller OF the ground--
lie placed him in uxuriant garden, studde,
on every side with trees which were attractive 4
the sight and yielded fruit which was good 70
food This garden lie commanded him to dres
and keep Man had given him at first, tast
for rural life, and field for its full devclopc
ment. He adapted him, in every respect, to ih
agricultural avocaton. Our want OF this taste
and our disincnation to this employment is on
~ one manifestation of our fallen nature.
i After mans fall, what was before at his option
hccame his necessity. He could no longer en-
durc the ease and indulgence Of his preyion
condition. Its continuance would have pIoshn
ted him in eiIemnacy aud vice. 1t was no
therefore a curse which God pronounced whel
Il lie said-1In the sweat of thy face sllult III OF