Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-02-22

their art, they should put books INTO
their hands to be studied, they should,
in fact, be carried through o regular
apprenticeship. When they have
gone through with this preliminary
study of theoretical and practical
farming, such rs can be given them at
homo, or with somo respectable farm.
or, they are prepared for the higher
school studies. Every county should
have, at least, ono high agricultural
school established and supported by
the farmers, both in the science or tho
theory and practice of agriculture
Until tho farmers adopt a system of
this sort, it is impossible that they
can ever attain to that high profess
sional standing that is enjoyed by
other professions. But what is the
system now2 The boy grows up on
tho farm and shirks as much of tho
farm work as he possibly can. If he
is willing to work, (and the farmers
sous who are form exceptions to tho
rule) no ono explains to him tho "why
and wherefore" of any operation. If
his parents are able, he is sent to
somo country school near his ros1-
denco, where he "learns to read, writc
and cypher somo," but ho also learns
TO envy the condition of tho school
master, the clerk in the store, the doc.
tors student and the lawyers Office
boy, and moro than all else, he hates
the idea of returning to the work of q
plain farmer. Here is tho root of tho
evil, and it is only to be eradicated
by a radical change in the school sys.
tom, and in the minds Of tho farmers
themselves, as to the standing and
character of the farmers's profession.
If tho young men were induced to con-
slider the profession Of farmor as dig
niied and "genteel," as much as any
other calling, they would not so readi.
ly imbibe n dislike for it. This can
bo accomplished by a proper system.
alto course of instruction at homo,
and by schools properly managed.
Tho term Gan ignorent farmer !"
has become stereotyped.. 1t was a
slrr of reproach from some, or all of
tho so.called "learned professions"
The farmers owe it to themselves to
repel this insult by the proper alton
ton to education. Time acas when
the working man was looked down
upon, and the farmer being one of the
working class, came in for portion
of the snoers of the lazy, proud, non
producers, who wero disgrace to the
age they lived, in and are doubly so
to-day. Thank God, the time when
to labor was to lose caste has passed
away This is tho working age. Ig-
! norance is disgrace; the lack of a
fair degree of book knowledge is a
disgrace; but to work physically till
tho sweat rolls from ones brow is hon.
orable; toll is cnnobling; but the
| physical toll of the educated farmor
stamps him as with true patent of
nobility. Cincinnatus was specimen
of tho agriculturalist, which the Amer.
lean fsrrner should pattern after. The
Roman Senate found him in tho field
at work. The time will yet come
when the American Senate will look
for another Cincinnatus TO save, by
his wisdom, this poor country.
The InoN BAR.-Here is q good
lesson from an iron bar. We find it
in another paper. Read it, boys.
GA bar of iron worth FIVE dollars,
worked into horseshoes, is worth ten
and q. half i; mado. into needles, it is
worth 1855; made into penkinfs blades,
it is worth S3,2S5; made into balance
springs of watches, it is worth $780,
600. =; a,i
What a drilling tho poor bar must
undergo TO reach all that; but ham
mered and beaten and pounded and
rolled and polished, how was its value
increased. II might we'll have quiv.
cred and complained under tho hard
knocks it, got; but were they not all
necessary to draw out its fine quail
ties, and fit>i IL for higher Offices l.. ;g
And 80, my children, all the drilling
and training which you are subject to
in youth,. and which often seem so
hard to you, serve TO bring put your
nobler and finer qualities, and fit you
for more responsible posts aud greater
usefulness 10 the world |" !: -,
| Tho largest Preaby yteripn ohukeh ~
present in the Unitsd is the Lafayette
Ayepns Prssby ytsIisii lehnfeb, Brook.
/ ilyh, n whteh Rev: Z. Uny.
1lef. ID. ID. RI nas sd1I,s sitha ii, a o,