Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-20
Dignity Of the Farmers Profession

Dignity Of the Farmers Profession
From an address delivered before the
American Wing and Cliosophie Societies
Of the college Of New Jersey, on the 25th
June, l849, to the Hon. Jno. Thompson
Mason, Of Washington county, Md, we
extract the following beautiful tribute to
the agricultural profession. The orator
deprecates the practice so universally
adopted, Of preparing every youth who
displays any signs Of genius, for what are
called the learned professions, and adds F:
1t is great error to suppose that there
are no pursuits in life worthy Of the high
calling Of a scholar or student, other than
the learned professions. OF necessity
but small portion Of mankind can find
profitable employment as professional men
and it certainly could never have been the
design Of the Great Author Of the universe
that nine-tenths or more of the human
family should be endowed with intellectu-
al faculties for no other purpose than
that they should remain forever dormant,
or discharge the functions Of the brute
l am aware that there are some enemies
of human rights, who assert and maintain
an opposite doctrine, and who advocate
the slavery and debasement Of the human
mind, as better suited to the laboring por-
tion Of society, or the ''hewers of wood
and drawers of water" Thanks be to the
Giyer Of all good, that we live in coun-
try in whose soil such doctrines can never
find root, and in an age that will chill and
blight the budding of such sentiments.
The mind OF man can find something to
employ it in every pursuit Of life howev-
er humble; and every occupation can be
elevated and more successfully follow ed
by invoking the aid Of mental faculties.-
What pursuit affords better field for the
study of science, and for the general i'm
provement of the mind, than an enlightened d
system Of agriculture Of all the ocupa-
:ions which can employ the attention of
| man, none affords greater facilities for the
development of the noblest faculties ofthe
mind and heart than agriculture. None
is so free from temptations none more
| honorable none attended with more happi-
ness none better adapted to the cultiva-
ton Of social pleasures, or Of an aftectionate
and reciprocal interchange Of sentiment
and opinion none SO well fitted 10 elevate
and expand our ideas Of the Deity, or to
promote love for, aud an obedience to
His great laws!
:sGive ME indulgent gods! with mind serene,
And guiitless heart to range the sylvan scene;
No splendid poverty, no smiling care,
No well-bred hate, or servie grandeur there;
The pleasing objects useful thoughts suggest,
The sense is ravished and the soul is blest;
On every thorn delightful wisdom glows,
In every rill a sweet instruction towS.''
Yet there are some who would consign
this ennobling pursuit 10 serfs and vassals
and close up this bright avenue which
leads to refinement and wisdom, against
all but the most degraded of our species
Agriculture and civilization have
through all time advanced hand in hand
and have ever been inseperable compan
ions and when the former is suffered by
a people to langush, it is certain indica
ton that they are in danger Of relapsins
into state of barbarism, and that refine
ment, science and literature, and all th'
arts OF peace, have attained their acme ant
have begun and must thenceforward con
tinue to recede. The condition of the ma
tolis vi lC SaI III o' p Ce''t "''e'' %''e ~ w
of these remarks, and they are equally ap
plicabe to the nations OF antiquity. Th,
ancient Romans in the days of their glory
and power were so devoted TO agriculture
that their most illustrious commanders
were sometimes called from the plough
Their refined and enlightened senator
commonly resided in the country land cult
waited the ground with their owk hands; ant
am mong all classes Of society, to be a goot
husbandnan was accounted the highes
praise. A noble Roman was overwhelm'
ed with tears on being obliged to accep
the consulship, because it would deprive
him for one year ofthe opportunity OF cul
tivating his fields.
Shakespeare: with as much truth a:
beauty, says in regard to rational ane
rural solitude.
s.Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of ainful pomr? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees books in the running brooks
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.'