Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-04-22
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Memphis Miscellany and Review.

From the Memphis Miscellany and Review.
MISTAKE OF AMERICAN YoUTH.-It is a
grand mistake into which many American
youth fall, that manual labor is not honorable.
To be merchant, lawyer. a doctor, an engin-
eer a military or naval officer, or a ship-master,
is in their esteem much more honorable than it
is to be mechanic or farmer. 1t cannot be
denied that all these other occupations require
exertion. The doctor is oftentimes weary when
his days work is done, as the farmer and black
smith can be, but he is not half so sure of
quiet nights sleep as they are, and we all know
to what hardships engineers are exposed, as
well as persons who follow the seas.
We often see vigorous young men seeking
places as clerks in stores. They all hope some
favorable tide in the affairs of life, which will
lead him on to fortune Other men have accu-
INFLATED vast sums Of money in buying and
selling goods, why not l? is the language they
use. They rarely consider that but very small
number of those who embark ever complete the
voyage. Where one succeeds, ten, fifty, per-
haps hundred, fail.
But an industrious thrifty farmer seldom fails
to secure for himself and family the common
comforts of life. The skillfuI and practical me-
chanic too, is generally shure of remunera-
ton for his labor, and with common prudence,
he can provide a competence for the future
That princely fortunes can be heaped up by
handling the pillow, the plane, or the sledge,
we do not say, nor is it pretended that men are
as likely to acquire fame on the farm or at the
workbench, as at the bar. But the history of
the world will show that the men who have done
most for the welfare of their race, and whose
memories are cherished with the most respect,
came from the hard working ranks Princely
fortunes are more easily wasted than won, and
while the moderate possession of the farmer or
mechanic supply all the comforts of life, they
are attended with few temptations to luxury or
extravaganza, and still fewer risks from the fol-
ly of others.
s. There can be no doubt that agricultural en-
pigments are the most natural to men, and
there is no country or globe in which the facili-
ties for pursuing these employments are so great
as in the United States. 1t requies but a very
small outlay of money to obtain a respectable
farm to begin with. A good knowledge of the
methods of husbandry can be easily acquired.
The implements of labor are as good and as
cheap as can be found the world over. The
products of the earth are sure of good market,
and one which is easily reached. The title of
land is well secured, and large monopoles, such
as some of the countries OF the old world are
burthened with, can never exest here. What
greater encouragement could be asked by one
who only desires to live comfortably and indie
pendently?
The farmer-that honest goodly farmers
one of the most independent men in the wide
world; he has the promise of the great Creator
that seed-time and harvest shall not fail. He
may always pillow in hope and reap with JOY
To till the earth, is really an honorable-a
noble calling.
But it does not require that a man should be
enslaved to the plough, nor that he should make
companions of his sheep and oxen. The shrew-
dest and most intelligent men who sit on our
JuIleS, anu heip 10 Ihahe our laws, come from
their farms, and return to them as soon as their
public duties terminate. The good sense, So
briefly, coutentment, industry and love of order
which characterize our American farmers, are
(under God) among the most important safe
guards of public peace and prosperity.
We hope our friends will ever esteem an hon.
est and intelligent farmer as most honorable
citizen, for this is alike the dictates of an en-
lightened piety, and of common sense.