Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-08-07
Practical Men.

1t has been remarked, as often as once
or twice, that men of genius are not
practical. Every one has heard ST some
profound mathematician who could not
measure load of wood.
We knew a profound and philosophi.
cal historian who, on his wedding day,
put on new pair of gator boots, and
tried in vain to button them. When the
case wss referred, Tor counsel, to his
bride elect, she found that he had trans
posed the right and left.
This might be excused on such mo-
mentous occasion; but a similar case oc-
ours to us more difficult to account for.
A man of genius, a reformer, who had
spent ten years in the study of social
science, having occasion to put new
string in his shoe. began to draw it thro'
all the holes, so that one end Of the string
was at the top and the other at the bot
tom. and hen was in q wonderment be-
cause he could not tie his shoe as usual
Yet this man will work out for you all
the problems of social science, and show
how the world might be reformed in the
most beautiful manner.
When theorists and men Of genius
have done all they can, practical men
must rule the world. No must have
thinkers and dream RS; but what the
world wants most, is the men who know
how to do it. An humble success is better
than a magnificent failure. 1t is better
to make good pair of shoes than tc
write bad poem.
The aggregate Of the practical mel
make up the greatness and glory Of ou
country. When we look at a singh
farmer cultivating his acres, and making
his crops of wheat, corn, oats, etc, an,
raising his horses, cattle, sheep and hogs
it seems but little; but count up a milior
or two Of such men--earnest, practical
prosperous workers-full of intelligence,
and enterprise reading the papers-in
terested in public affars-Seeing to tn
education of their chidren--encourag
the arts and sciences, and you have tht
basis of national greatness.
Then put beside these millions Of agri
culturalists all who labor with them ant
aid them in their pursuits-the mason.
and carpenters who build their houses
thC uDlOIblUltlo llld
furnish them; tho workers in iron and
other metal; the manufacturers; the pa
pcrmakers, printers, and publishers the
traders who furnish supplies to make ex.
changes, and you have mighty array o
practical Matchmaking up that aggrega
tion which we call civilization.
In some respects, it may dwarf a ma
to perform single function of this civil
ization. 1t seems a small business to b
year after year making some little articl
OR helping to make a screw or button
to sit pegging shoes, for instance, or put
ting pins on paper. But this is not tn
way to look at it. The worlds worl
must go on its multitudinous wants mus
be supplied. Our only concern is, to dc
what we are best fitted to do, and what
will be Of the greatest social advantage
But it is when our days work is done
that we toke our true place in society
Then we enjoy the fruit of our labors
and participate in the general good. Ther
this civilization inswhich we labor bring,
to us it's noblest products. The news
paper comes ireighted with the labors 0
genius. Books make us acquainted will
all illustrious souls. Music, painting
sculpture, architecture are ours, with al
their eevstiug influences. We listen t,
the eloquenco Of the orator; we glow
with enthusiasm, as we read the Thoughts
of the poet. All this belongs. or shoul,
belong, to the humblcst of tho faithful
practical labors in our civilization
This is what every man who loves Jus
tice must look forward to- a true civil
ization should assure to every one tina
work for which he is best fitted, an
those pleasures he is qualified to enjoy.