The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-16
Agriculture as Al Field for Human De-
We opment.

JOCKS.
Agriculture as II Field for Human De-
We opment.
A Paper Read at tile Meeting of the
Vermont State Board of agriculture
ut Middle6ury, By F. d. Douglas, Esq,
Of Whiting.
Concluded.
Farm life with its quiet retreat and
seasons of comparative leisure. its long
winter evenings and stormy days, furn-
ishes opportunities for reading and intel
lectual improvement enjoyed by the men,
bers Of few other callings. If the farm
ers' sons can have access to a good libra
~, aud will properly improve their OPP
portunities, they may by judcious
course of reading acquire that knowledge
of the world which will be of more prac-
teal value TO them than that obtained by
an ordinary collegiate course Of its peo-
pie and their history, their government,
industries and pecuiarities the biogra.
plies of its illustrous men, of its geogra-
ply and natural productions, Its geology
and meteorology, its botany and natural
history, of anatomy and those hygienic
laws which govern his own health and
that of his domestic animals. He cat
thus acquire store Of practical knowl-
edge which will fit him for any position
in life.
Yet with all these advantages the
farmer may be, and often is, Ounce.
He must determine for himself what his
standing among men shall be. The pur-
suit Of agriculture is not a specific for
the cure of idleness and stupidity. He
may cultivate tastes and habits which will
make the occupation of his winter even
ings in the manner | have described a
source of both profit and pleasure, and
result in noble, manly development as
surely as every effect is the result Of its
legitimate cause. If he habitually sleeps
away those golden opportunities, cult.
Yates habits of listless Incidence and stol-
id apathy, he necessarily accepts the re-
suit of his choice, which will surely be
very low grade Of intellectual develop.
ment. If he habitually strolls to some
neighboring store. tavern or grog shop,
to spend his leisure hours in idle gossip
or to partake Of a social glass, the results
will be the same, only that he will add
moral depravity to mental imbecility.
BY such course he can never master
his profession or be elevated by it. He
will even complain Of The low, mental ma.
ture Of the very calling which he has not
brains enough to understand. He will
be 80 far beneath it, that he will only
comprehend its most unpleasant features
Its cares and tolls will appear to his
thoughtless fancy to assume gigantic pro-
portions, and he will readily adopt that
absurd and foolish notion, that intelligent
labor is disgraceful; that the sinewy aru
and calloused hand necessarily indicate a
plebian mind, while the soft white hand
and corresponding physical develop
ment betoken true gentility.
The farmers son with such notions ant
habits, if unfortunately for him he is sup
piled by indulgent parents with pecunia
ry means, will soon lose his manhood, ant
sink to level with those who frank per
sonal attractions, land those even judged
by a false standard,) above substantial
requirements broadcloth, silks and per
fumery above mental and moral worth
He will even fancy he can better his con
dition by leaving the farm and seeking
some third rate clerkship where his deli
cate hands will never be soiled, and wher
the brain work required is only enougl
to measure silks, laces and calico, AM
utterly inadequate to develop brain pow
er enough 10 him to rise to the head o
his profession, or to a respectable medi
ocrity among men of mind. Such
youth, though he may dress in the fines
Of broadcloth, sport the most exquisite
waxed moustache, faunt his gay appart
and diamond rings, and be perfumed wit
the choicest of odors, will never posses
true manhood.
Whence comes that idea that agricu
ture is a mental calling,an unworthy pun
suit ? And whence those absurd fashion
which are corrupting the minds Of man
Of our sons and daughters? Do they OF
iginate with our men of mind, with on
pure and noble women, with the true NJ
bility Of our land Never bu. rattle
with the opposite extreme of society, fro,
that self styled aristocracy, which thong
possessing pecuniary means is bankruI
in mind and moral worth. Labor dil
graceful | By what means were thos
mighty minds developed which have hor
ored and are now honoring our countr
and humanity Like the modern dand,
were they more the product of the tailc
and the barber, than of the Creator d
they come from the palaces of our mi
lionaires where habits of luxurious cas-
prevail, where generous industrial emit
lations are unknown, where stern necess
sity never incites to manly toll ? Neve
Do they come from our city where gal
dy display is the rule, and diligent al
plication in youth the exception, whel
barbarous fashions and perverted tast,
corrupt society, and the gay round (
frivolous amusement occupy the time an
attention of the young Of all classes
Such conditions never develop such me
The germs of our true nobility al
most often found in some humble far
house, or in some frontier cabin, both Fl
removed from such influences whel
some child Of poverty has been subjecte
by stern necessity to those condition
which God has imposed for his develo
ment; where by honest toll and frug
diet the body, that early habitation
the soul, has been fitted to perform j
par. Of q harmonious whole where II