The Portland daily press., 1868-10-05
The state Agricultural F.,r.


The heavens are bright over our heads, and
the earth beneath is laden with food for man
and beast. The political skies, too, are bright
aud promise years of good government and lib
erty and equality to all men. The people of
this great country never have had greater
cause for gratitude towards Him who governs
all things well than they have now. A celebrat-
ed wrter-ws believe the author of Ecce Homo,
says: "The world is greatly indebted to lowly
cradles" and we can safely add, no country il
more indebted to such cradles than our own
dear land Surely we are distinguished above
all nations for the number of children born in
poverty and obscurity who have, unaided and
alone, attained the higest positions in science,
literature and art. A writer in the Journal of
Chemistry says there lived a little more than
third of a century ago, two boys, the sons Of
farmers in very humble circumstances. These
boys were barefoot and poorly clad, and might
have been seen working at the wood pile repair
ing fences which lined the roadway, or attend
ing to other ordinary, farm employments. Thees
boys have grown to be John G. Whittier, the
great poe, and Edmund r. Peaslee celebrated
physician and surgeon of New York city
Neither of them, until they reached manhood,
we're able to come under any better educational
influences than the school house in the woods
afforded for about two months in the year. In
summer they. worked upon the farm, and in
the winter made shoes. Such examples are
encouraging to the boys and the young men of
the present day. And if they cannot become
great poets and celebrated surgeons, they can
acquire riches and fame in the pursuits ofrural
life which is growing more and more impor-
tant and desirable ever year. We have some
farmers in our country whose fame is world
wide and who live the happisst of lives
What young man would not be a farmer? Tho
time has gone by when farming is placed in
the category Of mental services. The world
now honors the agrcuturalist, and these agri-
cultural fairs are good schools for our young
men, and we hope they will attend the one
which is to commence ters tomorrow, in large
numbers There is much to be learned at these
exhibitions. ,-s ..-..--.s y. ....... .,.. 20
The prospect now is that we shall have the
best show of cattle, horses. farm products and
mechanical work ever exhibited in our State.
Let our young men come and learn the best
mod ofemanipulating eur mother earth whence
all her children draw their nourishment-
Come then, young man, to the fair, and learn
how to get an honest living and lead happy
life. No employment is more honorable and
none more useful to the world. The means
and instrumentalities of acquiring agricultur
al knowledge are multiplying all around you.
These fairs are increasing in numbers and in
terest every year, and reading matter relating
to the farm, orchard and garden is accumulat-
ing on every hand While some may gamble
in stocks and gold in Wall street, some meas
ure off tape behind the counters, and others
attempt to live by their wits without any regu-
lar employment. Be it your aim to engage in
the primeval and noble occupation of making
two blades of grass grow where but one grew
before" AGRICoLA