Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-10-11

our daily bread.n This prayer is the
expression of universal want, and the
recognition of the source from whence
that want must be supplied. 1t Is the
mission of the farmer TO provide the
means of supplying the daily bread, !"
which IL the symbol Of every element
that nourishes the body, and preserves
the race from speedy extinction.
No calling that engages the minds or
hands Of men, can be more benevolent
In aim, or beneficial In results than agri-
culture. since the days of Cain, who
was "tiller of the groundn-and Noah
began To be q husbandman and plant
ed a vineyard, there have not been
found wanting men of eminent attain.
ments, who have not devoted their en-
ergies to progress In agriculture
While 1t has, In all ages, occupied the
largest portion of mankind who have
from the unwilling soil eked out a pre-
carious existence, or from an exuber-
ant field have reaped rich harvests.
there have arisen, at times, giants who
have done much to advance the cause,
aud give credit to the art. 1t surpasses
all other occupations, giving prosperity
to the individual, wealth of the State,
health to the body, soundness to mind
and purity 70 morals. An old poet
quantity expressed this idea In the
lines
slow blest the farmers simple lott fF
Far from the worlds tempestuous strife,
Free, mid the scented fields." 4r St
In tracing the history OF eastern
countries to the times of Moses, a peri
cd of about $500 years, and consulting
the various writer's upon husbandry,
1t will be found, says London, that 'sthe
state of agriculture aud other arts, an
even machinery, does not appear to
have been materially different from
what they are In the same countries at
the present day. Property In land was
recognized, the same grains cul tivated,
and the same domestic animals reared
and employed; some led q wandering
life and dwelt I'm towns and cities, and
pursued agriculture aud commerce,
like the fixed nations. 1t is reasonable
indeed, and consistent with received
opinions, that this should be the case
for admitting the human race to be near.
ly exterminatedat at the edeluge, those.w whc
survived that catastrophe would pos
sess the more useful arts, and general
habits of life of the antediluviail
world. gt-s s s3s
Noah is accordingly styled hus.
bandman, and is said to have cultlyat-
ed Y vine and made wine. In little
more than three centuries afterwards
Abraham is stated to have had exten.
sive flocks and herds. Isaac, his son,
said to have sown and reaped q hum
dredfold. Corn seems to have been
grown in abundance In Egypt; for
Abraham, and afterwards Jacob, had
recourse to that country In times el
famine. Such is the amount of agri-
cultural Information contained in the
writings of Moses, from which the gen.
eral conclusion Is, that agriculture, In
the east, has been practfced In all OF
most of its branches, from time. imme-
mortal. ts t..t,ts fss..ersts
In these latter days, very many men
distinguished for their attainments as
statemen and scholars, have engaged
In the cultivation of the soil, not only
because they found lin Ii satisfaction to
the mind and health to the body, but
because they were impressed with Its
importnnce, financial and commercial
and bent their energies to the creation
of proper public sense of its value and
dignity. Without undertaking other
employinents, they felt that the pros
perity of all classes was based upon Ii
that I'm periods of commercial distress,
or manufacturing depression, when fl.
nancial revolution overwhelmed the
merchant. oroverpowering competition
bore down the mechanic and lahorer,
that like fablad Antrus, we had only 10
touch the earth again and new vIgor
would be impaired TO all branches OF
industry. ~ 8 it'A a1
Oh, what an artr-what mystery Ii
that of the farmer! What boundless
field for the development of his own
faculties--for the elevation OF the hui
man family. lHa,t +
The scene before US ID not only full OF
animation, but of interest to every one
who has the happiness and progress OF
his race at heart. This Is not merely
an annual festival: it Is great school,
where the results accomplished by the
ablest aud, most practical minds la these
departments are exhibited for instruc-
tom W fteifAt1assf tii3 ~ stsi5ltftt
You have embIed here from the
farm, the shop, the counting room. and
Mississippi Cedar-Des Moines and
Iowa, and the shores of our beautiful
lakes, to learn the progress which, as q
State, We are making In those arts
which arc more essential TO our sup
port, our comfort, and our civiliza-
tion. Eattga9 a6|
The ancients had their Goddess of
Agriculture they reared affairs, and of
fered sacrifices and fruits to her I'm wor-
ship; they celebrated her festivals with
music and feasting; but they knew
nothing Of such scene as this. 4at
Neither the A8Ora. atAthens, nor the
Campus Martius, at Rome, In spite Of
all their boasted civilization, was ever
illustrated by an exhibition such as on
this spot now meets your eyes, and
auickens the pulse Of every true friend
OF agriculture. aatttfta sa ztit4fs, .l{a },s.,
You see In this varied exhibition,
mind entering into natural laws, and
SIX I'LL combining them to effect these
rich products. Nowhere can be more
deeply impressed with the power ofthe
human mind than when moving amidst
this exhibition OF the products OF our
farmers and mechanics. iiR a8ot iiiiQ II
Annual fairs are organized az means
through which to accomplish the best
results, and their continuance proves
their usefulness. All classes Of labor
are here recognized, and are eneourag-
I'd to make yet further advance In use-
ful and beautiful productions. It Is the
most efficient way of bringing home to
q scattered agricultural population,
whatever there Ia to facilitate their la
bor and increase their happiness by inn
proving their condition.
Are there agricultural progress and
advancementa anywhere? Has any ar
ticle of superior merit been invested,
grown or fabricated by .skilfull hands
the past year? Ii 30, you will find IL
here; and can take its availability home
with you, and profit by the lesson. aa
You, felloW-citizens, are gathering Of
the workers FARMERS and mechanics---
the representatives Of the mind-work
which can alone annobls your hand
work. !. # si5sAs III .i 4 '.sss.ss setss II.
great schools us the Office and foruua.
ltrequires persevering study and long
f41 m aStxsrs fh0 rofation nf