The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-09-24
BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL PAIRS.

BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
Every thing from the lips or pen Of Daniel
Webster still con,inues to he read with in.
trress. The following is an extract from an
Address al his. delivered at the Annual Fair
uf the Norfolk Agricultural Society, at Ded-
ham, Mass. in the year is49:
" The principle of Association--the prae@
tice 81 bringing men together bent on the
same general end, uniting their intellectual
and their physical eHnrts TO that purpose is
great improvement in the present age. We
saw il years aeu- perhaps ! might say Gen.
turies ago. II began IN the corporations Of
tleo world. Il began IN the professional asso-
Citations uf the world, IA the legal. the me,li-
cal. aud the theological. Hut it was long.
in that county aud IN This, brinre the princi-
pie &c combination came 10 be acted upon in
the grea: system nf agriculiure-beiore was
brought To that pursuit II LIE which IS the
main pursuit al iife-before agriculturists
were brought to act in "uison. And the rea-
son is ob, ious. In the city communities
strive together. Tie merchants and ship
owners can come Together Il the sound VI
bell. The mechanics, generally. living in
populous places. may do The same. They
have the opportunity of interchanging sentl-
ments every hour. and what one knows. all
know. and what q the experience OF one, all
so8n become acquainted with. hut the az.
ricultural population Is scattered aver all the
fields Of the country. Their Iabnrs and their
tolls are. in same degree. isolated. They
are iu the midst ol the hills and the vale,
aud in the recesses of every solitary forest.
There is no Change fr them TO assemble an
al noon. There are no coffee houses, there
are no Athrneums iar them to mret At in the
evening aud ronversr an their interests.
II has, therefore, became essential To the
best INTEREST,". OF the farmers Of the common-
wealth, that these annual fairs should be es.
tabli-hed, and that they should he universally
attended. And. as his ExceIlency the Gov
ernor has remarked, IL is not so much on ac-
eeunt NJ what is to be learned by the most
eloquent discourse IN the public houses. or at
these Establishments, as iram the meeting oi
mrn together who have the same general OBJ.
jrrt, ~ha with for improvement IN the same
general pursuits Of life, that they may cen
verse With one another-thst ,hey may Com
pare with each .ther their experience. and
that they may keep up constant communl-
catmn. u Is in this poi Of view. IN this
greatly practical paint 81 view. that these
annual ians are af Importance.
"why. gentleman. every man obtains a
very rr. at portion Of all that he knuas 90 this
~orld by conversation. Conversation. inter
course with other minds is the genera sou,ce
&c nus of our knowledge. Buoks do some
thug, but every man has mol the opportunity
90 red. Ii il con ersslinn that pinpr.'ses.
ID any ane 81 Us is here 1. das. harmed or un.
ilssrnrd, should deduct what Ice has learned
by conversation Tram what he knows. he
woeld h,d but liiil. left. aud that little nnt
of the most valuable Kind. II il conversation
Iii is tie meriing II men lace To lace. aud
Il talking over ~hai iLe, have cos rnnn ~ in
i trfe.--ii !. this inirrc urse inst makes men
sharp. intelligent. read, 10 caInmnnicai- 4,
nlI.rrs, aud ready torsceiye iniImsii"ns ifniil
them AMI irsdy To- acl upsni ihose only which
th.s receive b, this or4l communication.
.ThvIri.rr . ii there we're not thing rx.
hibiird--il there were MT g0od pair o
steers, nor a fine horse. M likel, caw ~ th,
Whole country, IL thrr, be soclety-if tn :,
be ladies'. wives aud dsughters-it thsie b.
thusr connected with the ullsse oi land.
~, that ih.,e annual meetings are highly i'm
poriant TO progress N the art to which the,
irlrr. ! come here as a po.r farmer. I" NEE
With other better farmers. ready TO reerir,
Irom them sny intimstions their experience
may have taught, aud desirous onl. ai sug
/. grstlng something iW thrir reflection which
nov ur hereafter may draw their attention
! aud draw il lusrfully TO something ~ ,hr agrl
; culi.ral art"