The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-02
Our Agricultural SOcfety-The Impor.
lance Of its Revival.

sUhNO VI hec NCFANaA"
We are living, as every thoughtful man
sees and feels, in state of transition. We
are endsavoring, with resolute courage, to
sdsp, ourselves to the new order of things,
and have put aside, as a people, all weak
repinings. Indeed, We think that grand as
the attitude of Virginia has always been, her
position to-day is as noble as at any time in
her past history. She confronts the Iuevita-
table with fortitude never surpassed in the
annals of any people under the sun. At the
same time, it is done without any affectation
We do not particularly enjoy the new ADJUST
ment of society; but we cordially desire to do
all that wisdom and humanity can suggest to
make this condition beneficial to both races.
We were very well contented to live after the
manner of our fathers; to dispense our hospi-
talities; to elaborate our theories of govern
ment; to ride in stage coaches; to go with
out the telegraph; in Short we were what
Mr.. LEIGH HUNT called "modern antiques"
and if we lived, as Mr.. BURLINGAME said, on
'oysters and tradition" the oysters were fat
and the tradition enrolling. We were very
well satisfied. We thought then, and we
think now, that we had Paradise of our own
In this old Commonwealth, and look back to
our Garden of Eden with feelings for which
our language has yet found no expression.
All that is gone. %
We are now upon new career. We turn
tothe future We see that we have work be-
fore us, hard work of brain and hand, and
we are, as people, ready for it. But in this
onward march, we feel tender and noble
anxiety to carry with us all our customs, all
our habits which can survive the wreck; and
all the traditions of our race which we SO dearly
love and venerate. Just as the great founder
Of the Latins carried off his household divini-
ties from ruined Troy, so must we bear with
lis all the sentiment of our old civilization
which we carry in the march before u.s. In
short, we must endeavor to preserve as much
Of the grace and nobility of. Our past, as we
can by possibility blend with the activity of
our future Many of our habits must be, nay,
for that matter, have been, laid aside But
there are customs which should be cherished,
and which, fortunately, can be blent up with
practical affairs, SO that business may be COM
bined with sentiment. There is one Of these
which we beg our people to consider. 1t is
worth their attention We had here, in COM
mon with the other districts of the State, an
Agricultural Society, whose annual Fairs
brought re ~. -=-aa+z -n,rnhers of the
very best people in all this region. We all
remember the big oxen, the preposterously
fat hogs, the captivating muttons, the high
bred horses, the reapng machines, and
heaven knows what beside, we saw in those
days, And who can ever forget the gentle
men with silvery hair, the stately DANES the
-..:i..l. nnaidens-the noble people of this
glorious region, who assembled on these occa-
sions?
These Fairs did lis infinite good. They
improved the breed of stock; they liberalsed
our system of agriculture; they brought GUS
toners to our merchants they enlarged our
country connections and kept up our good
old fashioned intercourse. Let lis bring back
as far as we can this old custom. Impulses
OF feeling and suggestion of interest, join in
enforcing the wisdom of this advice. 1t can
not be done in day we know, but a provis-
ion for the future can be made and should be
made. The Fair Grounds for example. might
be laid off in lots and sold, the Society reserv-
ing alternate sections, and new parcel of
land ornsmented with trees and more remote
from town, purchased with the funds. But
should this be impracticable, or should it be
deemed ixexpedient this thing is certain, that
no time should be lost in reorganization.
It might be effected by this fall, We might
have here in October a convention of farmers
to discuss with our merchants the prospects
of the future; though the beginning would
be small, still we would have planted an
acorn to grow up into future oak. This
suggestion is worth the consideration of our
merchants, let us trust that with an eye to
the future, they will not neglect it, This So
ciety will enable us to live-in the present
with its new duties, and to blend with these
some Of the graces Of the past. The larger
and more prosperous it becomes, the greater
will be its practical good effects, and in its
annual Fairs the more will we feel like We
did in the good old fashioned days which have
vanished.
From him who hath not shall be
taken even that which he Hath"
The Fraedmants Rureau for Elizoheth Civ