Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-02-09
Agricultural.
FARMERS IN PUBLIC PLACES,

THE press has been burdoned of late years
with lectures and sermons and satires, ad-
dresses to agrculturists, rcprobating the fact
that, on public occasions, as cattle shows, &C.,
when speeches are made they fall into the
rear, and speak only by proxy, Facts arc
as stated We have word to say as to their
proprety.
We remember that Lord Mansfield is re-
ported to have said that he should be as much
ashamed to know statute law as not to know
common law. The reason is obvious. Stat
utes are constantly changing and not one in
hundred is ever called to the notice of "a
lawyer. Hence to study them so as thor
oughly to understand them in all their rela-
tions, would be time thrown away, and labor
without profit.
1t is SO, in our opinion, with the entire cat
aoguc of working-men. If any one has the
gift of public speaking without study, Or
experience Or science, we know not why he
may not show it up. For the sake OF the
bar and the pulpit, and for their clients and
hearers sake, we wish this faculty did come
come by nature But as we are persuaded
that it is not thus that men are eloquent, Or
persuasive, or instructive. Such qualities
are only the result Of much reading, of care
full and close study, and no little experience.
Hence, if farmers do make speeches, the pre-
sumption is, that the result will be almost as
happy as if lawyer were to undertake some
of the most difficult and intricate of farmers
work, Or clergyman were to undertake to
play mechanic.
True,we have some lawyers and some doctors,
and some men of leisure who enrol themselves
on the list Of farmers. Some are educated at
college, or other equally useful Institutions, 50
as to make them eonversant with Language,
and with science; and thus, and thus onIy.
are competent to acquit themselves handsome
ly in public speaking.
But not one half the lawyers, nor one hall
the ministers, nor one half the doctors can
make a good speech at dnner-table, or at a
public anniversary. Our Benevolent Socie.
ties, annually meeting in New York and Bos.
ton, are obliged to use over their old stock
and that, too, several times within our own
recollection, and even then fail to sustain the
interest with which they first began. This is
matter Of notoriety. Under such circum.
stances to laugh at farmers for not exposing
themselves as volunteer bores, is far from be.
ing judicious or in good TASTE
The farmer who tolls all day, and at night
makes plans for the morrow, how can he be
expected to become good and acceptable
speaker! If he has acquired the art before
he becomes farmer, Or the mechanic before
he becomes working mechanical is all well
We wish many, multitude might thus quail
ify themselves before they commence these
arduous pursuits.
Besides, our farmers are proverbially mod
est men. Different causes conspire to make
them so. We should regret change, and
nothing would SO thoroughly effect this change
as frequent public debate. We have known
a few absolutely ruined by this very process
They 'out-grew their shoes They substan
TALLY outgrew their dresses and their entire
habits, and, like some of old, did nothing but
hear or tell some new, and yet thrice told
story.