The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-11-03
NO. %.
Gllbf Warking- Mlall.
agriculture anS ths Professions.

When young men are about completing
their education, they very wisely ask them.
seIx$ what they shall do. A few. scanning
the various zpits, luckily hit on sometime
IN harmon! their tastes, while the great
er part lools 70 the professions as the
legitimate sphefefof educated men. Now
this conclusion is all wrong. A college educ.
alton aims at professional life no more than
any other, but only at general discipline
and culture of mind. which may be applied
to all pursuits. There are, no doubt, some
IN each class, who are adapted to and will
honor aay of the professions; but the great
er part are not and they enter them rather
because they are honorable than in hopes of
honorlng them. But we have little sympa-
thy with those luminaries which seek to oshine
by a rehectedlig We have been taught
to believe that the man should honor his Of
nee, not the office the man and that il is bet-
ter to move at the head of even an humble
calling, than follow in the rear of a dignified
profession. We would rather raise potatoes
which somebody will eat than makes speech
es which no one viii hear, or write books
which no one will read. aa3, s9 "a
But II these young gentlemen will care.
fully look around, they will perhaps find
other avenues to wealth and distinction, be-
sides the professions. Take for instance,
agnculture--not simply the art Of blowing
the ground, but agriculture viewed in all its
practical and scientific bearings, and thew
VIII possibly find scope for the display of at
ieast Irtpderate capacities. Indeed, il we
mistake not, some enter the professions. who
would not find a waste of talent in aericul-
tural pursuits, and who are certainly quite
as well suited to them. But so many Young
men are captvated with theidea of profession,
al or political titles and life, that they over
look what they call the humber avocations.
SO away they go,talking of Robert Halls and
Daniel Websters, between whom and them
selves there is no more comparison than be.
tween the Alps and an ant-hill. We would
not be thought to underrate the professions
by any means; but we believe strongly in
an adoption, a fitness for things. If a man
has not natural capacity for one pursuit.
let him take up another for which he has a
natural capacity. Better handle the plow
with grace, than make stupid argument.
Nor yet does this avocation preclude access,
to political distinction, to which so MANY
aspire. We know some farmers who stand
as good chance for Office as many of their
professional brethren, and who are as we'll
able to flourish as delicate hand, or quid-
die as accurately, or talk as honiedly: but
in good sense and sound judgement, the e.
sential elements OF 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 professions, but them
NJ Al,
and pride of the country. .... a,@e ~,
Let not young men, therefore, think a
profession the "sine qua non" of human
greatness, but let them cast about and see
what they are fitted and have taste for
They will go to work thoroughly and earn
estly and be sure to succeed, while on the
other hand, they will most surely fall
american Agriculturist. =,