North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-04-29
Che TimEs.

Yo- Attorney General,
J..E. WILLIAM ON,
Warren County
Fish and Intellect.
AoAssIz, in a recent lecture, declares
that people who cat fish are most intellec-
tual."-Ezchange. .,
1t would be difficult to find people who
did, mt eat fish more or less and hence al
mankind are "most intellectual more or
less. The remark attributed to the great
naturalist is not only not true but it is the
very converse Of it and we do not believe
Agassiz ever said it. To 20 back few
years: let US suggest that the disciples
were most, if not all, engaged in that bu-
sincss till they became FISHERS Of men"
and theologians all agree that they were
Ignorant fishermen" It is presumable
that these men ate fish and We know that
invory high northern ATTITUDES, where there
is scarcely any other food but that which
10 taken from the water the inhabitants
are wonderfully behind the temperate,
zone, in intelligence. We fail to re-
member, at present, more than very
few illustrious names which can be credited
to countries in America above 50 degrees
north. In Europe the line may be extend
ed to 60 degrees, probably owing to the
mildness Of climate over there, and hence
to the raising of meats and grains for food.
Fishing is one Of the many weaknesses
we confess to and VIC would say nothing
derogatory Of ''the profession but we in
sist that fsh-eating people are not tai
cated above other men nor are fsh.eating
countries the precise plnces to look for
Eeat mental ability. We like fish, and
we catch and eat many of them during the
season but we know gentlemen on the high
prairies west of McGregor who probably
do not eat a pound Of fresh fish, at home, in
n year and yet they seem to move around as
intelligently and as heartily as those of
US who can have fish every day or at every
meal if We choose. They are just as smart
as the professional fishermen who catch,
sell and eat fish ali their lives. Most men
who have occasional leisure are fond of
hunting and fishing but there are great
many talented persons who never think of
such sports.
The Professor must have had "thc hub" in |
his eye when be uttered such an un-prov
able position as heads this article. lie
saw Boston bright, smart spot; that New
England entire was covered with mental
scintilla; her schoolmams and divines
sowed gospel and educational seeds, with
,ut which the west would be in barbarism!
tho Professor, doubtless, saw all this
md, in reflection, it suddenly occurred to
him that New Egland lived principally on
.od, halibut, mackerel, herring, and
,ther fishes, and therefore all the brains or
ability Of the country resulted from the use
If the dcnizens of the deep. Wonderful
discovery! Inhabitants, of the land must
eek the waters for food when not a mo-
hers son Of them can swim until they be-
come f'oggish in their motions. If the
Professors idea is correct it is only neces.
'ary to raise children near the water and
iced them on fish academies will be use
ess! New England is supported by boun-
lies on fish, by high tariffs, by exemption
rom taxes from her manufactures, while
he people Of the west bear up the loss of
'evenue thus deducted, 600 millions
says by wealth. ground out of
agricultural and western pursuits to
enable her to absorb nearly three fourths
# the untaxed gold-bearing bonds of the
General Government! By representation
o Congress far in excess of her population
Il strength and by many other advantages
lenied to anti-fshing communities. This
nay be convincing even if it is scaly, bat
he cry of distress now coming from that
quarter would indicate that the smart
'art of her conduct in bringing this state
# affairs about is proof that she not been
ensible. Her idle mills, her impoverished
yorkmen, he- useless water-powcr and
N her heretofore active sources of business
ife and general success remind her people
hat but for her extravagant ideas Of far
If philanthropy she might now be in con-
lition 10 exercise home charity. She has
hips no longer because there il no use
or them. She who depended almost
holly on manufactures has virtually des-
royed her best customers in an effort to
make them conform to her fanatical ideas
# propriety. She commenced the Slave
rade; filled the States with Congos, traded
amber for west India rum, snapped that
um for Negros, sold the negroes for more
um and did large business in the turn
after this trade became proftless she
Ihandoned it and became moral
Without government aid she is not self
ustaining to-day! Yes, fish is great
train fertellixer!
The best way to ascertain how rapidly
me is moving is to look at a stationary
,hJect which We are passing or have passed.
Though it may not be creditablo or fatter-
ng to the vanity of any party, we present
IN indictment by which woman in Vir-
.inia in 1851 was tried, and sentenced to
wo years imprisonment for teaching
lave to read. The indictment reads as
ollows:
'And the said --, not having the
ear Of God before her eyes, but moved
md instigated thereto by the devil, did
each certain negro woman to read the
'ible, to the great displeasure of God, etc."