, 1867-03-29

The following very sensible and well written
| article we extract from an agricultural s1.
change. Let our farming population read /,
and appreciate the dignity Of their calling
For thousands Of years the world took il for
granted that the rustic must be far behind the
urban population in all qualities Of intelligence
and refinement, and these very udjectiyes imply
a difference in good manners altogether in favor
Of the dwelers in towns Farmers outside of
eclogues were clod hoppers" "villaips -
" chaw bscons," and the bedizzensm of the
pastoral poets made country folks at best but
artificial objects Of sound critical Contempt II
WAS thought wonderful thing that Diocletiau
should prefer the culture Of eabbages to the
powers and the pleasures of the pAlace-so
wonderful that the world has talked about il
ever SINCE. There has been no end of admira.
ton at the spectacle OF Ciuciunatus taken from
bis Plow to be made Dictator but we turn
farmers into Senators aud Senator's iuto farmers
every year, convert large land proprielors into
Major Generals, and ind the growers Of turnips
and potatoes acceptable contributors to the
monthly magaz mes.
There was, il cannot be doubted, a tendency
IN the old farming life to stoLdity to the coarse.
ness OF tue earth earthly, 10 the mechanical me.
do:rity Of dull routine, and to a contempt of
tle polished pursuits OF literature and nrt. Uu.
fortunately this coarse selfsutiicieucy also ex.
To "a foolish distrust Of real improvements, To
anything out OF the usual, time honorei course
OF piowing clunsily, reapiug painfully, exhaust.
lag body and soul anu soil, all three tOgt ther
by blgOled adherence 10 the ways of the fore
fathers. The farmer was thrifty, hard work.
ing peasant. with his chief pleasures alinentary,
and his boys and girls ii Is not to be wondered
ar rau away to the cites to become brokers and
the wives Of brokers, merchants, millers-any-
he of III fall
the dairy.
modern agricultural fair proves how all
this has Jeeu clauged. The material improve.
ment is marvellous MS shown 10 the increased
Production, Ia delicate fruit, in gigantic veg,ta-
Cles, IN golden butter, and in stock advanced
almost to perfection. This is TO be ,rrrd to
that simple pliacip.e Of com eaton. without
which the world wOIld cease to move, or would
only retrcgrade. The prizes bestowed are some.
thing, bat they are too small TO be regarded in
the light Of remuneration; they are like the
cross Of the sVliier, or the simple certificate of
merit which the school boy proudly carries
home. The moral advantage j., that The farmer
sees what has been achieved, and is fired with
honorable ambition 10 equal ur to excel. What
Jones has done in the way Of pig, or Smith nc-
cJmFlishrd in the way Of pumpkins Brown I
feels tnat he can do, aud does II.
But above all, in the solemnity, If we may |
say so, OF the occasion, in the ability of the ad
dresses and their subjec; matter, in the judicial
estimate Of the merits, III the general pomp
and circumstances Of the whole i've affair, |
ia llrner fnnlS fhi,t thA i'm 80. Isv lyry
tess ion is admitted, that its dignity is respected
and that it Is recognized as the calling of all /
others with which the world is utterly unable to
dispense with with ut reIapsiHg into blrbari.m /
or experiencing vast amount of suffering. lie |
comes IN contact with his felyw-firmtrs Of the
country, he gives them the ripe result of his ex.
Drrcucc, and be cuFr.es of their own in return.
In the sharp collision Of many minds, all work
ug in sne direction, there is always OUth Of
lrw ideas, and rckeursati ~ Of old oGrs. The
agricultural fairs are the fIr.uers il council,
md the farmers ere tbs CVuscrilt Fathers "
he Rppublic