Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-20
Benefits of Agricultural Fairs.

Every thing from the lips or pen Of
Daniel Webster still continues to be read
with interest. The following is an extract
from an Address of his, delivered at the
Annual Fair of the Norfolk Agricultural
Society, at Dedeam, Massachusetts, in
the year ls49:
':The principle of Association-the
practice Of bringing men together bent
on the same general end, uniting their in
tellectual and their physical efforts to that
purpose is great improvement in the
present age. We saw it years ago
perhaps might say centuries ago. 1t
began in the corporations of the old world.
it began in the professional associations
of the world-in the legal, the medical
and the theological. But it was long, in
that country and in this, before the prin-
ciple of combination came to be acted
upon in the great system of Agriculture
before it was brought to that pursuit OF
life which is the main pursuit Of life-be-
tore agriculturists were brought to act in
unison. And the reason is obvious. In
the city communities strive together.
The merchants and ship p owners can come
together at the sound of a bell. The me-
cllanics, generally, living in populous pla-
ces, may do the same. They have the
opportunity Of interohanging sentiments
every hour, and what one knows, al know,
and what is the experience of one, all
soon become acquainted with. But the
agricultural population is scattered over
ali the fields of the country. Their labors
and their tolls are in some degree Isolated.
They are in the midst of the hills and the
valleys, and the recesses of every solita-
ry forest. There is no Change for them
TO assemble upon at noon. There are no
Athencnms for them to meet at in the
evening and converse on their interests.
':Why gentlemen, every, man obtains
very great portion of all that he knows
in this world, by conversation. Conver-
sation, intercourse with other minds is the
general source of most Of our knowledge.
Books do something, but every man has
no opportunity to read. 1t is converse
ton that improves. If any one of us is
here to-day, learned or unlearned, should
deduct what he has learned by converse
ton from what he knows, he would find
but little left, and that little not of the
most valuable kind. 1t is conversation
it is the meeting of men face tc face, and
talking over what they have common in
interest-it is this intercourse that makes
men sharp, intelligent, ready to commu-
nicate to others, and ready to receive in
timations from them, and ready to act
upon those only which they receive by
this oral communication.
Therefore if there were not a thing
exhibited-if there were not o good pair
Of steers, nor fine horse, nor likely cow
in'the whole country, if there be ladies,
wives and daughters-if there be those
connected with the tillage Of land, say
that these annual meetings are highly i'm
portant to progress in the art to which
they refer. l come here as poor farmer.
to meet with other better farmers, to re.
ceive from them any intimation their ex.
perience may teach, and desirous only Of
suggesting something for their reflection
which now or hereafter may draw it use.
fully, to something in the agricultural
art.h