Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-12
farmer's department.
FARMIR'S PRIVATE LIBRARY.


IF there is any man who neeos a good
private library, it is the farmer. For,s-in
the first place, he has profession to master
which requires as much study as any other.
not excepting divinity, physic or law. This
will appear evident, when we consider that
knowledge of the physical sciences gener-
ally is essential to the best understanding Of
agriculture, and then he must have Immense
practical knowledge of his art, of the mar
kets, of the law of exchanges, of men and
of things; in order to the greatest success.
Besides, there is no reason why the farmer
may not enjoy literature and science, books
and lectures for their own sake as we'll as the
men of other callings. And there is the
consideration, that he who tills the soil has
considerable leisure in the course of year
to enjoy good library, especially in the
winter, by his own freside.
In the next place, to use pulpit phrase,
acknowledge is Porer," to the farmer, as
we'll as to other men. 1t is power to increase
bis income from farming, power to guide his
family and his affairs with discretion"
power to give him an influence in his neigh
borhood and town, power to make his inhu-
ence felt abroad through lectures, speeches,
editorials, and books; for farmer may de-
vote his leisure to lyceum lecturing, editing,
authorship, and even to serve his constitu-
ents of winter in the State or national CAPT.
tol, if he has the necessary requirements.
Thirdly, a farmer needs good private
library, or as good as his means will allow
him to secure, for the sake of his family,
as we'll as for his own sake. For he gener-
ally lives somewhat remote from the circu-
lating library of the village, even if there is
such library; and the same is true of the
winter course of popular lectures. Thus he
and his, being more confined at home du-
ring long winter evenings, need more the
moral and mental enjoyment and stimulus of
a library. And this library, to meet the
wants of both the head of the house and
his family, old and young, should embrace
not only the leading works on agriculture,
but books on history, politics and religion,
as we'll as biographies, travels, poetry, and
miscellaneous literature, adapted to give the
younga taste for reading, and the old the
best solace amid their declining years. Many
who read these lines, remember with pain
how much time they lost under the roof
farmer in their childhood and youth, for the
lack of such library as we have described.
They dozed away long and precious winter
evenings for the want of books, books.
They wasted hours, weeks, months, or even
years, at country taverns or shops, or else in
bed, because they had not either acquired
the love of reading, or else had not the
books to read.
Fourthly, farmers private library is one
of the best of home attractions. The i'm
portance of making his dwelling attractive
to his wife and children, as well as to him-
self, cannot be over-estimated. If it is not
rendered place of happiness, the tavern,
the shop, or some place of more doubtful in
Auence may be sought for, Willing away
precious time The we'll filed library at
home arrests the attention of every family.
There are illustrated books for the children,
books of adventure for the daring, and OF