The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-04-15
Make Farm Life Attractive.

Make Farm Life AcsTaeuVe,
Just now, when the cotton mania pre-
walls 80 extensively, and men are not a's-
posed to heed Solemon's advice about ma
king haste to get rich, we publish the fol-
LOWING beautiful and truthful extract from
., speech delivered by Hon. 81. Seymour,
SIT an agricultural fair last year, with the
hope that it may induce some poor voya'
ger to pause ere he -wanders too Tar from
his moorings.-EDs. So. Cult.
It not -unfrequently happens that a man
of fortune who has given himselfup 10 the
love of gain, or who. may live in masn!'
t,cent house, we'll filed with costly artl-
eles. after ell this may still be the dweller
of a dreary, unturnished world. His
poorer but more intelligent Eeighbor may
see from his porch greater beauties and
objects OF deeper interest than wealth can
give. 40
We can see, then, why country life is
dreary to one and full OF pleasure to an
other. We can see why we have not put
the farmer upon tho highest grounds
when we have merely taught him the
skill of husbandman or the art OF ma
king money These do not meet the de-
mands of nature when our vital powers
begin to give way. They do not meet
the call Tor mental interest when time
shall have laid It's hand upon us and dis
abled US for physica! toll. TO lift up agg-
ricuiture TO its best and hishest estate,
those who follow it must have measure
of taste and Of education which will make
them happy upon their farms through all
periods of their lives. If these are want
ing, men will abandon tho country for the
excitement of towns. We now see why
the great men to whom alluded sought
homes amid the remote scenes OF nature.
We also see whence springs this hurtful
and unhealthy passion for city life. But
it NAV be said that all men cannot be-
come learned in the mysteries of nature.
1t would indeed be u mockery to tel! the
man who begins in the hnmblcst posi-
tions, without the aid of carly education,
and who is toilitg on to wiring out a'sup-.
port by his farm labor for himself and
family, that be must become either an as
tronomer, or geologist, or botanist, to
bo happy in his home. Nor are those
things necessary. The Almighty has
been too kind to demand of any for their
happiness that which is beyond their
reach But he does require them, if they
would enjoy the beauties of His world,
that they should open their eyes and look.
He does demand, if they would have hab-
its Of thought and mental pleasures, that
they should cultivate their powers OF OBJ
servation and learn the lessons which BE
tries to teach them in every bush or flow
or, in every stone or stream, and in all
animated nature that surrounds them. 1t
needs 10 more knowledge than every man
can gain who will look md think, to
makernral life full of enioyments. he
who will nes do this cheats aDd wrongs
himself. In tho order OF nature love. OF
tho country is q natural enjoyment in our
declining years. All men should bear in
mind that their tastes outlive-their intel
iectual power. They should therefore
cultivate those tastes which can be easily
yra,itied, that are not Inconsistent with
weakness of age. which make no heavy
demands upon our powers. or which we
hold by an uncertain tenure. Objects OF
art or wealth are frequently stripped
from men when their powers begin to
fsiI. but he who loves Gods works is
happy in the scenes of nature, and has
pleasures more certain and lasting than
fortune can give. It's good investment
to cultivate the tastes. care not how
humble thcy may 10. The man is untrae
to himself, amidst the labor Of the farm,
when following the plow or busy ut any
A.. IL nf m stAlf
TO love what is beautiful, aud who does
not exercise and strengthen his mind by
observing all there is about him. Ho lives
in the midst of Gods great museum of
wonders, and he cannot say he was never
taught, for all the world about him is
teaching, if he will but learn truths That
will mako him content with his lot, ihat
will strengthen his mind, purify his taste.
and lit him up in his whole nature. |
have seen and known much OF men Of all
conditions. have iistoned to the stories
and the prayer for pardon OF the criminal
in his cell. have enjoyed the inter
course of men marked for their virtues,
their abilities in high social and official
positions. Beyond most men have had
u chance to study human nature in all its
phases, and do not hesitate to say Us
ono of the results of li!c lon. observation.
that virtue, health, and happiness are
bcst promoted by cullivating love OF
nature. Its teachings. next to the teach
ings of religion, do most to make men
Wise and contenLed here and hereafter
YOUNG MEN SHOULD NOT ABANDON COUNTRY
LIFE.
Nav wo not hope that the taste for ru-
raj lite which once prevailed in our land
may be restored by II better public opn
ion and by II jju'licious system OF ednc"
ton which shall aim ut gaining that
knowledge which is needed by our farm
ing population. The young men of our