Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-08
From the Baltimore Sun.


The Hon. Joseph r. Williams has recently deliv-
cred an address before the Michigan State Agricul-
tural Society, at Ann Arbor which is disng uished
by the soundness of its views not less than by the
perspicuity with which they are advanced. We
sincerely wish that we could afford ROOM consistent
y with engagements for the whole of this ster-
ling production but being unable to do so, pre-
sent to our readers extract from it, devoted to
consideration ofthe farmers calling Tit as follows:
The best faculties of must be devoted to
the farmers pursuits the best intellect must be
gagged in it and the farmers life must be field
wide and attractive enough for the ensrossment and
development of every human faculty, or error,
ignorance and thriftlessness, will not be exploded,
and the calling will not the elevated position
it deserves Happily rapid change is perceptibe.
The relative position of professional mercantile and
farming pursuits, are changing, day by day. The
first are no longer sought with much avidity. the
last no longer Stunned. wise man should never
encourage his children to assume the duties,
tons and hazards of precarious and unhealthy pur-
suits no matter how dazzling the prospect how brill
liant the prize. There is higher object than
wealth to be gaine1-sound sleep and sound health
higher object than personal distinctions COM
posed conscience. In times past there seems to have
been a kind of infatuation among the farming
munitv in regard to evasion of their honorable call
ing. Thirty years ago, farmer was prone to act
with his children as though he himself followed a
degraded calling. He seemed to deem professional
mercantile life the only road to high respectable
ty or social and official distinction The Websters,
the Wrghts, and the Fillmores, were not retained
to ennoble their own but crowded off to Illustrate
and adOrn some other profession. 1t has somewhat
mended of late The public mind has become more
sound It bids fair to become still more sound 1t GER
tanly will, if men will speak the truth, and hear
the truth, and practice its precepts. The world
will never regard the farmers calling as the most
honorable till it is so cherished by himself, In pub
lie estimation pursuit is appreciated at the value
placed upon it by those who follow it. Turn back,
then, the tide of public sentiment among the agri-
cultural population The sturdy sense of many a
sturdy farmer pierces the gauzy delusions thrown
around the fancful and frivolous life of the towns
man. In the expression of his judgment sound, he
yet practically may have sought all his life to make
his children the very butterflies he deests. If he
would have his occupation take rank as the most
respected and most dignifed among men, he must
not himself act though he regarded it as dull
and stupid exercise Of human powers. ] know not
so small farm, so limited garden, that they may
not englo all mans faculties and consume all his
leisure. The time may be distant when each fal m
er may be geologist, naturalist, chemist-but
the time has already arrived when the application of
science to agriculture is producing peaceful GER
tain, and gigantic revolution, eevatng the calling,
multiplying its results, increasing it's comforts and
promoting a higher civilization Of the
"A farmer should not consider it presumption but
a duty, to gladden. bis home with all true. and ge-
NAL and ntrinsicay valuable comforts, that shed a
glow and attractiyeness around the private home of
the citizen. He can make it more inviting. There
are few comforts and appliances about the home OF
a tOwnsman which a cOuntryman cannot enjoy
There are thousand pleasures around country
residence which all the capital of city cannot buy
A farmer surveys from his window with unaloyed
delight the field now groaning by superior cutiva-
ton, under twice the crop of previous years. While
he gains it, the world gains it. It is so much added
to production But multiplied and dubious are the
ways in which townsman makes his gains. Some
times tbs the pound of flesh Sometimes tits extor-
ton. Sometimes double value is given to the raw
material, but oftener his gain is loss to another. TIC
say the least the townsman is sometimes exposed tC
the inevitable necessity of expediency and dishonor
From such necessities the farmer can, if he WILL al
ways be free.
- God made the country made the city
Just superior Gods works to mans works
just far superior the studies of the country tc
the studies of TIE town IF you look upon the rich
and gorgeous Development of nature from spring tC
fall from the tiny germ to the abundant crop, with
no more delight than piles Of stone, and brick
; and mortar then your life anywhere will be desul
tory, hard and dull. When he gazed upon the mi
race of his own frame, in awe and admiration, Da
vid exclaimed: Il am fearfully and wonderfully
made. Yet each plant and spire of grass each tree
and fruit each creature every form of vegetable and
animal life, is growing and living miracle, no less
wonderful than the frame of man. If he studies
them all as living illustrations of scientific truths
and he deg bts at each discovery Of the capaci
g ty and properties of plant or an animal, anC
each new insight into the laws which regulate its
propagation and perfect growth, then, indeed will
farmer become philosopher and of science
and his life will be ceaseless round of triumphan
experiment and success. From the most trifing act
to the performance of the highest duty of noble
calling his life will be full of delightful satisfaction
, The favOrte domestic animal which he has watched
and fed from nursing, seems to lick his hand il
gratitude and almost eager to contribute to his sup
port. Look along that evenue of stately trees
groaning beneath abundance of delicious fruit,
throwing refreshing shade over the weary travel
er. But yesterday it bundle of mere twigs
which he proyidently brought home, grasped per
haps in single hand 1t may be that wide field
around him have been transformed from the wilder
ness by his energy, and now blossom like the rose
No grOans nor tears, sinks of misery and crime
squalid poverty, witnessed in his daily walks
and in the performance of his daily duty His mine
need not be tortured with intense anxiety becaus
struggling the verge of commercial ruin. H
runs less hazards of having his body racked will
every disease to which muscle and nerve, and hca
and stomach, are liable. But fear am srayn
wide Of my subject | wished to show that tn
pursuits of farmer may be rendered the mos
intensely interesting the most noble and the mos
engrossing to all the faculties, of both body an
mind, of human occupations. AS soon as it is mad
so, 1t will become the most profitable and thrift
to be, that will it prove"
Singular Wedding.
e The following remarkable marriage was consum
mated on the 7th inst, at the registers office Ne1
aton, ENG in the presence of the registrar, SUI
perintendent registrar and several witnesses, be
= tween William BERRY of Wharra II. STRAIT ma