St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-07-04
NUMBER 27.
adaptation Of all its parts to their res

ptttNc pulpOScS, HIS Dcen SoulCc "
unfalling admiration to philosophers
of every age, and they have confessed
that the deeper they extended their
! observations, the more surprising are
the examples Of the order and beauty
Of the vast machine, and the wisdom
of the mind that projected It. The
various processes, too, by which every
end has been wrought out, discover
an excellence and magnitude before
which mans greatcst achievements
pale their lustrc and dwindie into In
significance.
The Great Artist evidently design
ed agriculture to be the chief source
of our substance,--th parent of all
other arts, the fountain head from
which they flow. He seems to hare
blessed the nnrs',itt .m..cre :5undant1y
than any other, with those gifts that
are most highly priced and eagerly
sought By all, namely, health aud
long life. And knowing, too, that
without some employment existence
would hang heavily upon us, he seems
to have selected the culture Of the
earth as the most delightful of all oc-
cupatons,-one worthy the pursuit Of
man in that perfect and blissful state
which he enjoyed before his fall. The
lsraelites, on whom he bestowed SO
many signal marks of favor, and
whose existence was calculated, like
the golden age Of Saturn to be real.
ization Of those dreams of happiness
which humanity so fondly cherishts,
were cxprcssI y limited by laws from
any extensive intercourse or traffic
with other nations, as if the cultiva-
tion Of tho soil, on which they mainly
relied for support, was deemed the
most happy and innocent employment
they could be engaged in. A host of
characters might be cited from scrip
ture, suck as the patriarchs, and King
David himself, who followed agricul-
tnrc, and who were particularly be-
loved by tho Supreme being indeed,
we will find that He was always the
special patron Of this art, and prufuss
i'll pouring out his greatest blessings
upon its followers.
Agriculture is favorite theme
with the poets, and has given rise to
some of their most beautiful effusions.
The paStorals Of antiquity breathe
throughout such spirit Of sweetness.
and domestic tranquility, and peace,
as no other art could inspire. Could
the business of a quibbling lawyer or
'.-----;-cS '-s'v...,.,.., rnton oucIl.o ~
possess such attractions in the eyes
of our youth, ever be wrought into
such mclUdIous measures? Ccald any
of their details suggest such noble
thoughts and aspirations as fill the
mind of the intelligent farmer who
daily holds communion with Nature
in her most attractive forms, and who
watches with unfailing interest tho
gradual unfolding and perfection of
her mysterious operations, the mar
'clous instances OF her wise economy?
Many examples might be given of
the love and devotion of distinguish-
ed men to the cause of agriculture
but as Americans, we need none
brighter than that afforded bv our
own honored Washington, who looked
forward with longing eyes to the
shades Of retirement and the sweets
Of rural life as the solacc of HE de-
clining ycars-a haven Of refuge from
the turmoils and the distractions of
Dllice. There is Gen. Putnam, who,
Ike Cincinnatus Of old, left his plow
n the furrow, and FASTENED at his
tglptr,'., u e., l,nl hn,
2attIc and | might mention also that
llustrious Senator who was said to
have taken as much pride and salts
acton IN the management Of his
estate as III his brilliant
political career. Prince Albert, too,
has an extensive farm, conducted on
the most approved plan, whittier he
i'll seasons Of leisure from
the pomp and hustle of royalty, to
Socthc his spirit in calm scciusion,-
perhaps to forget for while the vast
responsibility that rests upon crown
ID heads.
In America bright future is OPEN
ng, a noble destiny is unfolding for
he cu!tivator Of the soil. The ihstl-
.utions of learning that have been
scattered broadcast throughout our
and, are welding a mighty influence.
They are clevating him above tho
Icpths of ignorance and prejudice, to
high degree Of cultivation and re.
inemcnt. The Intelligent farmer il
aking his place in the highest circles
II society, side by side with the
wealthy lawyer, the successful mcr-
'hant, and the accomplished scholar.
ills profession is fast rising in tho
scale Of public estimation, for which
hanks are in a great measure due to
he amount Of talent and ability that
ias of late been brought to bear upon
t 10y the invention Of labor-saving
machines aud the wide circulation of
agricultural journals. The elegant
surroundings Of taste, and the com
Orts and convcnicnccs of superior
knowledge which are now often seen
Iround the farmers home, evince q
spirit Of Improvement and intellectu-
Il advancement, not merely local and
but widespread and per-
nancnt.
One Of the chief reasons why rarnis
ng has been hitherto regarded with so
title favor, is the unfortunate aversion
which mankind are wont to cherish
against all kinds of manual labor.
That this is owing in part to the pcr-
;erSity of our natures, | make no
louht bnt | am strongly inclined to