The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-09-17

provoke him to a knowledge of them, to reat
while he runs, to understand though wayfar-
ing. If taste for reading and the attain.
ment Of knowledge is once acquired, it will
probably become confirmed into a habit fol
life affording more and more enjoyment a.
life advances; and il old age arrives, with
the innrmities and confinement incident to
that period, this habit with its attendant, re.
Election, will then prove mn unfailing and in-
eslimabe source Of pleasure.
No one should be hndered from entering
upon the pursuit of knowledge under an
impression iha, it is too expensive. and in.
wolves too much time. Good books, aud an
hour at time devoted TO them, will do won-
deis Tor one in the course oil a year. Be,
sides, the thorough sitting Of what we do
read, by mature reflections of our own. ia
the kind Of reading that gives us both knowl-
edge and wisdom,-th,t gives us useful ideas,
and wisdom in the application of them.
| There may be too much, as we'll as too little
reading, ng,-reading that crowds the mind with
crude, heterogeneous mass of ideas, with
out the power of using them practically, eff.
fcienily usefully.
| knowledge and Wisdom, fai from being one,
Have olt-time no connection. knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts Of other men
Wisdom in minds attentive tothcir own.
| knowledge, rude Improbable mass,
The mere materials with which Wisdom. builds,
ILL smooih'd, and squard, and fitted to its
place.,
Does but cucumber whom it seems t enrich"
AS religious being, man should receive
the advantages Of education. 1t is true that
Christianity extends its invitations to all men,
and so compassionately announces them,
that the most iiteratc may comprehend
their essential terms but it is also true that
it addresses the understanding rs well as the
heart that It's evidences, its hopes, and its
sublime faith, call forth the whole intellectual
power. 1t teaches us that the mind OF man
will endure, after all these material things
have crumbed and persisted that it is fitted
for constant growth and progress in knowl>
edge here, and for an eternal progression
hereafter,- that it may forever stratch forth
its tireless energies to understand the Crea-
tor as he is. Surely, then, if, con,idering
man in all his other aspects, we could By
possibility conclude to dispense with tho ad-
vantages ofmenral cultivation, yet, when We
think of the dignity and grandeur with which
the doctrine of Immortality invests his mind,
we must wish to see that mind expanded, ex-
allied and refined by knowledge, that he may
the better understand his duties and his
destiny.
Our farmers should be we'll educated, be-
cause thereby they will! be enabled to cons
tribute most powerfully to the prosperity and
continued welfare OF the Country. In num-
bers, they make up more than three .fourths
of its population. The territory they in
habit, or are in process of occupying. en-
braces almost every variety Of soil and eli
mate, aud is capable of growing, to vast
extent, almost every known production. But
the quantity and quality Of these produce
tiOns Of our soil will be in proportion 10 the
science and skill of it: cultivators; and since
those productions arc the grand elements
impeling the labors aud enterprises Of nearly
all the people, We see that the substantial
prosperity Of the country, its high advance.
ment in civilization and the arts of life. is
closely connected with the amount of seien-
tifc knowledge and skill possessed by the
tillers Of the soil,-that il cannot advance in
prosperity much beyond the advancement Of
its agriculture. But again, we live under
the benign operation of free government.
whose foundation rests, and can only securely
stand upon the intelligence an d virtue of the
people. Obviously, state of ignorance,
with lis usual attendants, Incidence and vice.
cannot be compatible with the existence of
free institutions. As citizens of a Repub,
lie, then, we should be possessed of that
knowledge ana virtue which will enable Us
to rule our own spirits. We are called upon
TO enact laws, TO discharge the duties of the
elective franchise, 10 take part in the admin
lstraton of justice, and to fill the various
| official trusts Of state. The laws contem>
plate our fitness to discharge these various
duties and trusts, under the guidance of in
| dependent opinions OF our own, and with q
just sense of individual resi- onsibilily. Nc
other conditions can be safely substituted for
these. Now if our ycomanry be well edu,
Gated. they will be likely 10 be industrious
independent and virtuous; if they are ad
vancing in education, and a scientific knowl
edge of agriculture, they will bo improyin,
their soils, adorning their estates, and crea
ting an attractive, happy, rural home, whicl
begets love Of country; if guided b,
knowledge and virtue, they will undcrstan'
their rights and their duties, and will priz
and maintain their richest earthly blessing
and il incorporate excitements, and unwis
and unsafe zeal for party, and temptations t.
ambitious men to overstep the bounds Of pro
priety, occur to cloud the political horizon
such a rural population, bred to plain AM
pure republican habits, and under the guild
ance of a sensible, temperate and stable con
servatsm, will ensure the safety of thes
free institutions, and perpetuiiy to the ric
blessings they bring.
: have thus endeavored TO enumerste wins
appear 10 me to be some Of the reasons VIII
our farmers should be well educated. | lean
not doubt but the intelligent men whom
see around mo are all ready TO carry for
ward any measures which will bring abou
this happy condition of things. What, iher
A., are some of the agencies now operating, an