The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-10-25
Z correspondence Of Che Californian

"''' lis -NK(IITI RAJ FAIR P,-
LiTICS. ETC, ETC
correspondence Of Tbe Californian.
ME>sIEURs EDrrops Tb;nk;no :,
may not be unacceptable to your numerous
anu intelligent readers TO reec i've. in tb.s.
highly exciting election times a t;w ;o,,;r,
o' local nature from this dark and bloody
ground, propose in the present commu-
"'ca''oh 70 dish up moderate mess of mis-
ctilan'eS," to he served up to them through
the medium of vonr columns.
"O!d Mason," the county in which nv ,ot
Is cast was the first settled in Kentucky and
Is one OF the most wealthy, populous and pro-
dur'lve IN the State Its surface i, GENERAL.
~ slightly rolling, and its soil unsurpassed
Tor richness and durability 1t contains a
population Of $4,000. polls nearly 3 600 votes
has always been unflinchinclv Wing in it,
politics. but since the "inven,ion" Of Know.
\othIngiSm, has been strongly American Js
population embraces as large proportion of
Sfalwart men, fascinating women, and model
specimens OF infancy. As anv other section of
equal "a ltni" in the entire domnions of
nclc sam As its projected railroads are
at a s'and-stil, and the Ohio River is inst =.
bout zone dry. the County is at the present
time shut OIL from the rest of mnnkind. save
hV o1 Il co.
ton. Hence the peope have amulr tim, and
opportunity for >cy'iou< reH,riion u,on n.
pol'icS Of the day. and the comparative mcr
us OF the great standard bearer, in the pres.
rnt triparilte controversy for the Presidency
he result OF their deliberations will be- lnlv
made known after the IlrS of November
kenturkians are destitute, to great cx
tent. ct Yankee o-ah"al-tivcncss, and are
content ~lth the ownership and use Of a far
farm. TT cattle. and t,t wit, and babies. As
an all->uclent substitute for enterprise. in
ITS true si.nihration As farmers, they are
>lovenlv and extravagant. have known
come tl'lers OF the soil squander fourth part
OF a large wheat crop (when wheat was worth
dollar per bu>hel),in the harvesting of it.
This was owing partly to the scarcity Of har-
vest hands (who always command from 81 80
to 5000 per diem). but mainly to the care
less manner in which the labor is cu>tom.r;.
ly performed. With most propretors, syeed
Is better word than suing and they push
all hands to the utmost of their strenc,h o..
ven increasing their caIarity in most cases
by generous supply Of odd Bourbon"
let this wanton waste is measurably atoned
Tor by turning IN stock and herds of swine,
to feast and fatten or the refuse of the fields
In country atounding in the distressed and
poverty stricken, the Sleanings Of such har
vest would be valuable yod-srnd. But in
land like this, where all persons, really. are
able 10 earn a comfortable livelihood and
rear their families in respectable manner.
aprlvileSe OF this kind is never looked for or
improved. The bounties of Nature have TINS
made the cu!tivatOrs of the soil what they
are, negligent, liberal. improvident and inde-
pendent. And from this condition of tb;ncs
springs naturally the lack of shift or enter.
prise. Crops are easily raiscd-no manures
save an occasional cloverinr are necessary
tie soil beng ineXhaustbIv ferfile,-and mn.
ch'nerv is imported and employed to perform
all Kinds OF heavy farm labor, such as cult
waiting the land, reaping, moving, thrcshinc
ana cleaning grain, &c. The inventor Of A
labor-savlng machine or implement is sure to
ind, IN the liberality CT kentuckians, an i'm.
mediate and profitable patronage. If not in.
o'"eu 10 seek out new inventions" them
selves, ken'uckians are at least disposed to
favor such disposition in others, wherever
show OF self-advantagc is made to appear
in their employment
AS to t.ducatIon-the life-blood Of a State
there is no deficiency, but rather a super.
abundance of common and firstclass schools
The County contains "a regular districts,
with good schools therein during most of the
year. There are also not less than ten in.
cori'orated Academes in the County, all in a
'o"r'Si'ns condition. 1.-THE sons of the pres
ent generation are not wiser than their "old
DADS and the daughters than their "mam.
mas, the fault cannot be attributable to the
men who are now directing the helm of state
and moulding the minds and manners of ,L.
people. There is a s.ronc de,ir. with al
classes to give their children the benefit Of
good, and in many instances a thorouch elias.
seal education. Great attention i EL
pad to instrumental music, although vocal
music Is sadly neglected. This desire to-
mental Improvement is highly commenJa.
Tie 'rai'' and argues we'll for the future bros.
FerIfv o. the State and nation. No exnenso
Is spared IN procuring educators Of the first
ab'nty. The pay of good teacher in ,b.
English branches is from 5000 to s5oo nor
annum; that of a classical instructor from,
9'oV 10 >looo' and even more in some parts
o. 'he county. The Academy at Monroe
has patronage Of nearly hundred pun;ls
one-four'h Of whom are pursuing a classical
course. &"
have said that the profits of husbandrv
are generally ample. The past two or three
seasons have been exceptions to this rule
lot tne crops, owing to the droutbS oc IL