The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-22

1t has long been custom of the part of the
large landed proprietors of England to give an
annual entertainment to the tenantry upon their
Estates, the most noticeable features of which are
substantial dinner, and speech from the land
lord in response to the usual toast, wishing him
health, long life and happiness At one of these
rustic gatherings, which took place last month
under the auspices of the Earl of SHAFTEsRURy.
that nobeman delivered an excellent address in
favor OF good morals, and total abstinence from
malt and spirltuous liquors. OF course the guests
applauded his Lordships homily, and would
have done so, if he had been twice as tedious
but we doubt whether many of them will profit bv
his counsel. 1t was the price of the substantials,
and they were content to pay it, not only because the
dinner was itself good one but because the really
benevolent intentions Of the speaker were Justly
entitled to respect. 1t cannot be doubted how
ever, that if the address of Lord SHAFTEsBURy had
smacked less of Exeter Hall and the Temperance
society, and had partaken generally of more
practical character, it would have made deeper
impression upon his auditors. A speech made
about the same time by the Dowager Duchess of
Londonderry to her Irish tenantry at Carnlough
,vae ,r,'~i- -----~ ~-.;-~--t .i.U
dinner, which took place at the Town Hall, the
Marchioness, who for the past ten years. has taken
a warm personal interest in promoting among the
neighboring farmers the introduction of a better
system of husbandry, complimened them upon
the great and visible improvement that had
taken place, and the vast strides they had
made in conjunction with the people of that country
generally in ameliorating their condition; but she
told them frankly, at the same time, that
there was nevertheless, much vet to be accom-
plished. ''Mght you not" said the good lady.
'by thrifty and frugal habits, improve your
'houses and domiciles still greatly capable of it.
"and might you not, by supervision, promote
"what is more important than al-the education
f'of your children-rather than from a false desire
'of gain, take them from school at period when
'every hour is of advantage to their future well
'fare?' Now here are practical suggestions They
point out what we all know to be the chief
obstacles to social progress and intellectual ad-
vancement in the rural districts. They admit,
moreover of "a much more extended application
than the Marchioness of LONDONDERRY designed to
make of them. Even here where the condition of
the farmer is much more fortunate one than it is,
as general thing, in Ireland, they are equally
worthy OF consideration. Nothing could be more
unpromising than the great majority of our Farm
Houses As structures, they are, perhaps the
ugllest to be found any where-they have not
even the merit of picturesqueness. In what the
old people are still accustomed to call ssTbe
Forest term embracing all the districts snr-
rounding Baltlmore-they are simply bleak bouses
on bleak hills; while on the Eastern Shore they
are too frequently bare houses on bare fields. lint
whether they are perched on hill, or nestle in a
valley, they are usually mere wooden shells, and
afford but little protection from the intense heat of
midsummer, or from the equally intense cold of
midwinter. But few have porches or yerandahs;