Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-10-24
price Two Cents.
abe 9ailp Spp.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER q, 1854.

AGRICULTURE AND THE PRoFEssIoNs.-
| When young men are about completing their
education, they very wisely ask themselves
what they shall do. A few, scanning the
various pursuits, luckily hit on something in
harmony with their tastes, while the greater
part look only to the professions as the legiti-
mate sphere of educated men. Now this
| conclusion is all wrong. A college education
| aims at professional life no more ttan any
other; but only at general discipline aid
culture of mind which may be applied to all
pursuits. There are, no doubt, sc me in each
class, who are adapted to and will honor any
OF the professions; but the greater part are
not, and they enter them rather because they
are honorable, than in hopes of honoring
them. But we have little sympathy with
those luminaries which seek to shine by a re-
Elected light. We have been taught to be-
leve that the man should honor his office not
the Office the man, and that it is better to
move at the head of even humble calling,
than follow in the rear of dignihed profess
sion. We would rather raise potatoes which
somebody will eat, than make speeches which
no one will hear, or write books which no
one will read.
But if these young gentlemen will careful
ly look around, they will perhaps find other
avenues to wealth and distinction besides the
professions. Take, for instance. agriculture
not simply the art of blowing the ground,
but agriculture viewed in all its practical and
scientific bearings and they will possibly find
scope for the display of at least moderate
capacities. Indeed, if we mistake not some
enter the professions, who would not find q
waste of talent in agricultural pursuits, and
who are certainly quite as well suited to them.
But so many young men are captivated with
the idea of professional or political titles and
life that thev nvarIook what thav call the
humble avocations. So away they go, talking
OF Robert Halls and Daniel Websters between
whom and themselves there is no more COM
parison than between the Alps and an ant
hill. We would not be thought to undertake
the professions by any means; but we believe
strongly in an adaptation, a fitness for things.
If man has not natural capacity for oIe
pursuit, let him take up another for which he
has natural capacity. Better handle the
plow with grace, than make q stupid argu-
ment.
Nor yet does this avocation preclude access
to political distinction, to which many
young men aspire. We know some farmers
who stand as good chance for office as many
of their professional brethren, and who are as
well able to flourish as delicate hand, or
quiddle as accurately, or talk as honiedly; but
in good sense and sound judgment-the es-
sential elements of a man-they are by no
means inferior. We always like to see such
men-good honest souls who lean not on
the dignity of their profession, but on them
selves. Such men are at once the strength
and pride Of the country.
Let not young men, therefore, think pro-
fession the ''sine qua non" of human great
ness, but let them cast about and see what
they are fitted and have a taste for. They will
then go to work thoroughly and earnestly,
and be sure to see what they are fitted and
have taste for. They will then go to work
thoroughly and earnestly, and be sure to sue
coed, while OH the other hand, they will most
surely fail.-Ameriean AgriculturiSt.