The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-01-27
farm, Garden aud &itfhen.
Agricultural Address.
By s. Il. COLBY, ESQ.


1859
In Vermont. the farmers represent the SUBJ
stantial interests Of the State; in fact, the
farmers are the State 1T is therefore, in
cheerful obedience to your invitation that
avail myself of this occasion to acknowledge
the emotions of pleasure and pride which all
true citizens feel in witnessing the distn-
gaished success of industry, labor and skill
and | come here to-day, MIR. President, and
gentlemen. proudly and gladly in discharge
of pleasing duty, to join with you in ac-
cording justice and honor to free and indus
trious Labor.
1t is not always in good taste, for those of
ore profession to step aside from its own
line and limit to speak of the worth and mer-
it Of another. But agriculture with US is ev-
erybody's calling. The free profession of
tree people-the nursing mother of all busi
ness-al! trade. Upon this broad and cath
olic base stands our social and civil struct-
ures. They thrive in its thrift-they fall
with its decline, and when through disaster,
or neglect, it fails Of its customary plenty, we
all tumble together to the ground.
The ennobIing and manly exercise and oc
cupations Of the fields and the workshop,
with the trophies of industry and skill, al
ways sure To follow in their train, whether
considered in the light Of political economy,
as invaluable creations and additions to the
material wealth of the country; or in the
higher and more important aspect Of diSci-
plne and culture OF men and women school
ing them i'll all the elements of strength and
greatness developing the stout, erect, firm,
robust, healthy human form, in all the pro-
portions Of its manly beauty, in all :he har-
monious lineamenis of its god-like architect
ure, or in training the mind to steady, pa
tien,, reliable habits of judgment or thought,
Or in cuitivating and cherishing the heart,
with idsas of the true, pure, beautiful and
.
mand. in our day, more cordial respect
from mankind, than was ever awarded to the
memories Of all the CAESARS, or to all the glare
of mere military glory from the bloody car
mage of Waterloo to the tire-leagued battle
field of Soitcrino. "Peace hath her victories
as well as war"
With all the rigor of its climate, and stern
and stubborn nature of its soil, its hard win
,ers, and rock-bound hills, New England has
somehow proved itself noble nursery and
school-house for men-gooG men, great men
and brave men.
MIR. Everett, speaking the other day at the
Inauguration of the statue of Webster, ex-
pressed his idea of the marvellous power of
practical life and hardship, III training the
human intellect:
"Born and bred on the verge of the will
dernesS, this father veteran OF those old
French ana Indian wars, in which, in the
> middle OF the 18th century, wild men came
, ahawk and scaping- knife against the tiresiue
and cradIe) with the slenderest opportunities
for early education, entering lille with scarce
the usual facilities for reading the riddle Of
torei gn state craft, remote from the scene of
action, relying upon sources Of information
equally open to a.! the world, he seemed tc
, me, nevertheless, by the instinct of great
capacity. to have comprehcnded in all its as
pecls, the march Of events in Europe and il
this country. His first words in Congress
when he came u,annoupced from his native
hills in 1913, proclaimed his mastery of tn,
perp!exed web Of European politics in which
the United States were then but too deepl,
y entansled, and from that time until his death
= | think We all felt. those who differed from,
as we'll as lhuse who agreed with him, tha
he was in no degree below the standard of
his time that ii Providence had cast his 10
in the field where the great destinies of Eu
rore had decided, this poor New Hdmpshir
youth, would have carried his head high a
mong the Metterniches, the TalIyrands, tn
e Castlereaghs, the Napoleons of the day, a
= as he did among his contemporaries at home.
h The people OF New England take their frs
y and last look of life in the midst of a mae
;. ni6cent Picture Gallery-a splendid Athan
v um Of the beautiful! and sublime -
i TO him who in the love Of Nature, holds
), Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
% A various language; for his eayer hours
She has roice OF giadness. and a smile
- lind eloQue',ee Of beauty; and she glides
y Into his darker musings with mild
=. And healing sympathy. that steals aray
:. Their sharpnesS ere he Is enare''
There is q beautiful moral in the "Picci,