The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-11-05
AN N UAL ADDRESS.

4 44 y
ANNUAL ADDRESS,
Deiirered before the North Carolina Safe Agriculra
Society, al he Fair Grounds near Raleigh,
On Friday, October IL, 1856,
BY PROF. ELISHA MITCHELL, d. d.
or THE UNIVERSITY.
| Three weeks ago last Tuesday, Iwas honor
ed with communication from the committee
Of the Agricultural Society Of North Caro-
lima, in relation to the duty now discharge.
A gentleman had been selected for the per.
formance Of it, in all respects quaified-one
who would have offered for your acceptance
the counsels ola wisdom, in which the opera
tions of mind richly endowed by nature,
would appear, combined with the fruits and
! results Of earnest study, mature reflection,
and very sufficient experience. But il hav-
ing been ascertained that this excellent gen
tleman would be called away and detained
elsewhere by circumstances at the time be.
1 y0nd his control it became necessary to find
a person who, on the spur Of the moment,
would provide something that would pass
muster at this anniversary The Committee
did me the honor Of taking il for granted that
4 il could not, on so short notice, prepare
an address suited to the Importance Of the
subject and the dignity Of the occasion, |
might, at any rate, make believe do 50, as
well as some other people. Three weeks and
two days were, | acknowledge, ample time
for the task assigned, If one had nothing else
/ TO do. But we are oyerrunning with students
at the University, and have abundant occupa-
tion in the discharge Of our duties there, not
only every day but all day, which, Of course,
alters materially the condition Of things. So
much Of apology seems to me appropriate in
the way Of deprecating too severe and search
l ing criticism, in case that in regard TO the
matter or the execution oi what have now
10 offer, shall be judged 10 have made some
approach only TO decent respectability.
But a more weighty objection to the speak.
er. in the capacity in which lie now appears.
may be found in his manner Of life, and what
constitutes bis employment from one years
end to another. lie is nothing but monk,
it may be said, "a married one, bv the way, D
who is kept perpetually clolstrd up there al
the University, engaged in communicating to
the young men the rudimcnts of science.
What can he know about the operations Of
farming the cultivation Of the ground, or the
raising Of cattle!
What u here, as we may suppose, offered as
an objection TO me. constitutes, IN my juds-
ment, nv very highest recommendation. Ii
were good thing for people OF all occupations.
professions and conditions in society, Of each
sex and every age. to have nowand then from
some authentic source, statement Of the
opinions entertained respecting themselves
and their modes Of proceeding, by such as are
the larthest possible removed from them in
their social position and pursuits. 1t would
be very amusing at least, and might be useful
sometimes, for lawyers, preachers, shoema.
/ kers, farmers, doctors, merchants. and Others
to listen to the talks their neighbors have
about them.
Ii somebody would only come over to oul
side Of the house, and disclose the commune
cations The sex have with each other abou
The men, when their heads are brought int
closest proximity, and the sweet. low tone,
: of their voices only are heard. but the word.
: they utter are undistinguishable or il III,
women could hear the frank and undisguiset
: opinions Of the men about themselves, Wher
these same men speak out fearlessly TO On,
another, instead Of humbly talking blarne,
at the feet Of wife or lady love, it nigh
result IN mutual Dcneht.
One Of the happiest in conception, as wei
as successful in execution, Of tile prnduc
tions Of the poet Burns, is The Iva Dogs
where lie introduces two individuals Of III,
/ canine race, both apparently Of fair character
. intheir respective spheres, butoccupyingver,
: : different positions in society, lone puli-hci
!. ! gentleman, AID The other plain, unprctend
lng peasant, rs interehanging opinions abOn
the characters and conducted mankind, ahel
. Upon knorc thrs sat them down,
And there began long DEPRESSION
About the lords o The creation
never see two Wagon horses Of Sun
da, Or other day, when they may happen 4
be at leisure, standing together and thnkin.
10 each other for hours, without being desir
rous to Know what ideas may lie passin,
through the mind Of each. II | could ge
4 hold of a hog newspaper, in which there wa
: communication from one who had latel,
been put up fattcn, expressing his opinion
:. on matters ard things in general. shonl,
5 pernse his article with extreme interest tl
would probably state that the character d
The human race seemed TO have change
greatly Of late. aud for The better. For that
!, whereas few weeks agO his venerable IN,
,cncrated mother. sow somewhat aged, wit
4 large family about her. could never crawl
II when half famishcd. through an opening i
the fence around a Corn6eld and hclp hersrl
= = 70 breakfast, without being cursed. dive
= rudcly out, peltcd with stones, beaten vii
a club, and her ears cruelty manglel az,
torn by ierocious dogs; here he, tie writer
was in a comfortable yard Or pen, with cor
or other sayory iood always lying By him,
2 plenty of water supplied, pleasant slecpin
y y place at night so that il was not his practie
!. now 70 root any more except for exercise an
4 lis own amusement. lie had doubts, indeed
Is about where all this ruusidefatc kindnes
.. wonld end ; but for The present be was com