The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-11

OF SOMERSET COUNTY, ~ tle
Annual Exhibition, Oct. 9th, 1864,
BY j. 8. BLACK,
Chief Justice Of Psnnsyluania
GxsTLEMEN OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:
Oicoufse am not expected to give you any
instructions in the details of practica! agricul-
ture. Ifi were competeni to such task this
10 not the occasion 10 execute il. An essay
on the breeds of cattle, or the genealogy of
horses=-on the process of making butter, The
composition Of mannres, or thecuidvation of
particular crops-would. a, present, be out
Of place and out of time. My purpose is
broader, if not better and more general, if
not more useful. The duty assigned to me
wilt be done if lay before you few Of the
facts and reasons which tend to establish one
most important truth, namely that the art
which you profess is in condition which
needs, and will most amply repay, vigor-
Gus effort 10 improve it.
When those who belong 10 u particular
profession hear themselves addressed by one
whose life has been devoted to different
pursuit, they take his advice reluctantly, or
not at all. They believe us far as they please.
II 10 90 much easier TO talk than TO do, that
an outsider can never speak as one having
suthoriiy. But do not know why sou should
not lake a suggestion, or listen TO remon-
STRANGE, lei it come from whom it may
There is nothing at all suspicious in the fact,
that merchant or mechanic, physician,
minister, lawyer, or judge, takes deep in
torres. in your business. II is their misfor.
tune, that they do not follow it; for most OF
them would II they could. The taste for IS.
ricultuial employments and rural scenery is
almost universal. The cultivation of the
earth is the only trade which God ever CON-
manded any man TO exercise; and ii seems
TO have been part OF the divine economy 10
ganization is fitted for the country, and not
for the town. The human eye is SO formed,
,ha. i. rests with pleasure on green and blue
and cannot indeed, endure any other color fol
a long time without injury. Our sense oi
sight is never so much delighted, because
never employed in n manner so coneenial to
the nature OF its organ, as when we look up
ward into the clear blue OF the heavens, oil
abroad upon the green earth. When man
was entirely blessed he was placed in gar
ded--not merely patch for cabbage and po
taioes, three perches square and closed in By
paling fence--bnt comprehending grounds
.f vaet .xtaot and NounJtae. M ouiffsap NJ q
adorned with flowers and enriched with fruits
Hill and dale, forest and fountain, shady
walks and sunny slopes, rich fields and YER
dant meadows, with four great rivers rolling
through them, made landscape, such as nc
eye has ever seen since the fall. llwas here
,hs. heaven and all happy consultations shet
their seleciest influence on The marriage o
cur frst parents. Imagination has nevel
painted scene of perfect happiness without
similar surroundings. Scenes of idylliar
beauty from the principal feature in the heav
On Of every religion, whether true or false
The EIysian Fields OF The Greek mythology
knd the Paradise Of Mahomsi, are ready ex
amples. The land which flowed with mill
and honey was, TO The Jew, a type OF tina
better country, TO which he should go afte
his journey through the wilderness oflife wa
closed. And many a Christian, when hi
soul recoiled from the dark stream of death
has felt his courage revived by The assurance
that
"Sweei fields beyond this swelling flood
Etand .irass,d N, E,,iuo greeu ~
C,hsr occupations are followed for The wealt
aud fame they produce, but agriculture !
crowded with amateurs, who pursue IL for II
own sake; and thousands feel the same de
sire. whose narrow means forbid them TO In
auIgs their wishes. When Cincinnai,us abau
doned the leadership of the mightiesl empir
ia the world, to hurry home aad finish hi
ploughine before i,got 20 late in the season
and when Washington retired from The Pres
idsncy, 10 cultivate h:s farm, they both yield
cd 10 an inclination as common as it was mai
ursl. The praise they have received for i
II n thousand times greater than they deseI
sed, The passion for fame, for wealth, Q
for power, Gsss uniou ubtedly predominsie i
sone persons bn, ..ove for the simple pleas
nres Of couuiry life is seldom ex:insuishe
in any sane mans mind.
These natural tastes, however, do not &C
sount for all the solicituds, which Is felt 10
the prosperity Of agriculture. Our interest ]
tits narvelously quicksned by The faet tbs
our bread dspends upon it. Il isihe ari pref
srvasive of all arts. lis success lies at th
foundation of The general welfare. The fruit
Of the tarmet's labor supports The industry
MI CHER classes. The ultimate reward 4
everv species OF toll must come directly
indirectly from the sauh, that common 'noil
A.