Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-03-20

] wish thtunbh Nm n'thuh
Of your valuable End widely rc.I'E;
ing paper to call the attention Of tar.
mcrs TO subject which though i'at
exactly agricultural il 81 vital import
nncc 20 all Asae,ican ssrienI.nrista.'--
The suffice, to which as'ade "a thu;
ofinn!ltct4a' cEhajti or improvements
mud in assigning reasons for attaching
SO great Importance 10 this subject. |
shall endeaYor to be brief. First, the
aye in ;shich VIC live is one Of i'm
,royemen,. The aria ami tcienccS
a,o advancing with gigantic strides to-
wards the acme Of perfection. As eff
fleets Of tl.!s progression ~e see th0se
inland scaa Of the west covered with
floating palaces, which cross and re.
cross them. in open defiance Of wind
nd tide. We Gee trains Of gorgeou'
carriages ,ravering the plains, climb
ing the hills, and penetrating the
mountains, in all parts Of our country.
Fy the same spirit Of improvement
the flrked Lightning Of The sky has
been disar.ned, ant beco,nc the means
Of transmitting intelligence from one
quarter Of the United States to an op.
posi,e one; yet in tho midst Of all
this advancement the farmers in many
portions Of the United States follow
tho examples and customs Of their M
cestora. They do no! sufficiently res
pect themselves. Every farmer should
reflect that he lives under republi-
can government, which gives him q
voice in the election Of President,
Governor, Legislators, Sc; and upon
Them tie responsibility rests. Now |
ask every farmer il i: is no. necessary
for them ac a class 10 possess cultiva-
ted and enlightened intellec,s iii order
to discharge the duties Of freemeu p
Second, the farmers occupation is he.
cessurily one Of toll; it is therefore
desirable that his mind should be well
stored with useful knowledge, so that
he may be able to produce proasa'
Bile crop with the least possible ex.
pense; and as all must subsist on the
produce of the farmers fields, if he
las bestowed sufficient care in the cul-
,iva,ion Of his intellect, he will be able
TO produce a, reduced prices, BY which
all classes in society will be benefited.
In the prosperity of farmers all are
interested, and upon them the future
welfare and prosperity of the country
depends, for we must coincide wAhs
Washington in the opinion "that tina,
country whose government is sustain
ed by an enlighted, industrious and
Intelligent yeomanry, would eminent.
y Fr6tEsRtr."'
Having thus seen the necessity Of
intellectual culture, l will consider in
brief the methods Of expanding, i'm
proving and strengthening the intel
!cs. Wore we to rely solely on our
observation, our progress though sure
wonli be exceedingly slow; but by
tho assistance Of q good newspaper,
that contains a variety which, accord
ing to Cowpcr, is "the spice of lito;"
something TO cheer US when cad
something didactic for peTusal in a
thoughtful and rejecting moment
and something to arouse the higher
and noblcr impulses of our nature into
healthy and vigorous action; in con-
ncc.:on with q well-selectcd library,
we should progress beyond our most
sanguine expectations.
The next question which arises is,
how shall we find time for so much
etudy1 / answer, that the long even
ings in winter; so frequently spent III
an Improbable manner, are favorable
opportunities for improvement. In
summer, when the days are long and
the evenings short, at least one hour
in each day should be set apart Tor
this purpose. Bythis method no. on
Il the intellect, BIZ, the physical pow
crs also, would be strengthened, and
VIC should go forth to our labor re-
frcshsd ard inyigorated.
Il, conclusion, I call upon farmers
and parents OF every grade in society
TO reflect that when few short years
shall have run their rounds, their sons
will occupy tho places of the present
Governors, Legislators, &c,-.their
daughters will be malronsi in America;