Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-24

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acter of the soil, and of the very trees Of the forest, so
much so, as not to be able to tell a Maple from a Beech
tree.
This is not a mere sketch Of fancy. was credibly
informed, that a lew years ago, a graduate settled in one
of our western towns, following one Of the Learned Pro-
LESSONS, returning home he lost 81 shoe from his horse,
he gathered up the handle Of the skillet, that had been
broken off, TO take 10 the blacksmith TO make a new shoe.
You perceive the term Learned Profession, has been
used, one common with public speakers: IL Is TO be
found in the very forms prescribed by the General Gov
eminent for taking the census.
By the census OF 1850, there are about sixty-hve trou-
sand Of the learned professions, out OF a population OF
twenty. three millions. 1t is a term OF rcproach, and
will remain so, until iii is extended to include the Farm
er and Mechanic.
The Farmer of all men. should be included in the term
Learned Profession He is the great physician Of nature.
II however he is ignorant OF the laws OF nature, OF the
proper treatment to effect a cure when disease affects
his patient, he is, of all men on earth, the greatest
Quack. There is this difference however between the
quack farmer and quack physician, the farmers patient
has so good a constitution, that it is difficult TO kill him
off. II his constitution was not good, IN many cases In
Indiana; the patient would long since have been dead
and buried and briers, thorhs, and thistles, taken his
place.
A case in point anne under my ownobservation, which
has numerous duplicates throughout the country. In
passing By a neighbor's farm on the Wabash some years
since, | found him laying the foundation upon which TO
build his stable and barn. II was situated on a high
ridge, near the side immedist ely above a spring. When
Intercepted as TO his object ia thus building, his reply
nnoF AtAb NL ftntfI e-bNtL AaoN e<19
The same day his son was hauling away the straw from
where his wheat had been ihrashed TO the head of a
hollow, to use his own language, that when the water
rose, it would wash the straw away. This man never
once thought that his rich land would wear out, or that
he should have any use for manure. My remark 10 him
was, if he lived in Yankee land, upon the poor hills Of
NeT Hampshire or Vermont, ne would ind at the next
term of the Probate court alter his conduct was known,
the town authorities had appointed a guardian 10 take
charge Of his interest.
But the tide is turned, the age Of practical educationi is
dawning upon the country. We shall soon have taught
from the common schools to the highest institutions Of
the land q practical knowledge of Agriculture. Me-
chanics, Arts, Chemistry, Botany, Geology, and all
those sciences that are so intimately connected with the
Improvement OF the soil, the animal and vegetable king
doms.
We must teach our children to know the character of
the soil. andits adaptation TO tho production ofeach article
raised for man or beast. teach them TO know the proper
place for each article on the iarm-how TO build a com.
Portable house, with all the cOnveniences of life, as well
as TO teach him how TO enjoy himself when he is thus sit
uated. Teach him something Of the beauty of nature,
as il Is exhibited, and the wonderful process that Is 60
ing on every moment around him, and above all teach
him the obligations that he owes to his creator, his fell
low men, and 10 himself.
The greatest good that is to follow these exhibitions
oil the skill and labor OF the country, Will be that OF ma
king labor more attraetire; We shall thus be able to
change this thirst for professional life, that seizes so
many OF our young men, this aversion to manual labor.
1t has been justly said, that the two great leading OBJ
Jects Of human pursuit, are agriculture and mechanism.
In those are eompTehended the wealth of the country
their prosperity is that Of the whole country. Each Gull
tivator Of the soil, must be made thoroughly acquainted
with the character and capabilities Of his fields, and ell
classes familiar with the natural wealth with which the
country is blessed.
We have too long regarded the representative alone,
as the wise MAJ, who deyises the best system OF finance,
to carry forward great enterprises, by borrowing mil
ions. Suppose we change these stimulants Of legisla.
from that of capital TO that of labor, and regard
him as the wise man who eevises a system that will
make labor more attractive.
LET rs Sav hv m oonducf that ha tvno will nraSanf
at your County aud State Agricultural Fairs, the best
model farm in Indiana, is rs much entitled to office as
he commander of a regiment in battle. He who will
the cause of The potato rot, and provide the
remedy, is as much entitled 10 the respect of his fellow
as he who manages the finances offs bank success
Iully-that he. at least, does as much for his race and
country.
The country will not be retrograding, when the high
est office shall be given to the Mechanic and Manufac-
tnrer who shall make the best model mechanism, or the
finest piece of cloth. Let the Plough, the Loom and the
-Anca, have their associations, conventions, shows, and
fairs When they meet, you will have essays, discus
slons and experiments. In this way You will not only
make labor more attractive, learn the progress we are
making in every department and pursuit IN life, hut will
hasten the day when Indiana will not be distinguished
Tor the goodness or security of her stocks, for she will
have none in market, and will stand where she is lustly
entitled to, out of debt, plenty and to spare-the very
State IN the Union IN all that makes a people hap
py. Light fares, no debts, an economical 0orernment, a
cal State.
III IS SAID mat Inc Press oil the country lsa good index 10
the people. II this be true, Agriculture is in poor keep
and at a low ebb. You will rarely pick up a paper in
which will be found an article on Agriculture or Me-
shsnics: II there is one occasionally from the Plough
Loom, and the Anvil, or other Agricultural work, it is
placed on the fourth page, in some obscure corner, new.
designed TO be read while the leading editorial arti-
lies are filled with the prospects of this or that man for
'hlce-some circus puff, or the peculiar good qualities
some Coffee House, or Ice Cream establishment.
Is il not strange. that the conductors OF the Press,
hould for a moment suppose, that it is more important for
heir readers TO DC advised Of the prospects OF this, or
hat man for Governor or Congress, than to inform them
4 the Improvements ofthe day in labor. saving machinery
the propriety OF changing crops-the success of the
lax movement, &c, Sc. The fault is not with the
Editors alone: The people-the mass of our people are
ot sufficiently alive 10 their true interest; the proper
pirit is not abroad in the land. Hold your County and
tate Fairs, adopt a regular system of bringing togetI-
T the labor and skill of the country-let the proper spir-
of emulation be aroused among our people. Editors,
Ike Politicians, will soon partake of il; and you will
Don see the leading editorials Of every press in the land,
living their readers, the full particulars Of the Premium
arm in such a County or State, the improvements in
branch Of industry or Eusbandry; and in some out
{ the way place a paragraph stating the probability that
anne Higgins, or Lawyer Turney, is talked about as a
for Representative. The effect t of which will
e, that the day Of the election will pass by quietly,
excitement. The pnblic mind will be alive TO
ne day of the County or State Fair, and every boy in the
,ountry will remember with interest the annual returns
{ these noble, stimulating festivals.
WET LANDS.
We have a vast body of wet marshy lands ia Indiana;
he quantity is estimated by some to amount 10 at least
millions of acres. The subject Of draining and
these lands is of great interest.
Those OF us who have resided in the State for a third
I a century, know how the early ~emigrants to the State,
voided the wet, swampy and low lands, settled upon
higher and drier portions of the country. Time,
owever, has demonstrated that this was a great error.
he rich, valuable and durable lands are those that for
remained unsold, and we're supposed to be wholly
NIT for cultivation, on account Of their wetness. i
now a farm Of 100 acres taat was sold five years ago
$500, that by the expenditure Of less than 500, in
raining and ~dltcking, the present owner refuses now