Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-07
9srnaltard.
Rev. MIR. Marray's Address before she
New England Agricultural society.

One reason Why the youths OF New
England have deserted agriculture TO
learn other trades and follow other pro-
LESSONS, is because agriculture did not
pay.
do not agree with those who think
that this is the prime reason, for in youth
especially purely monetary considerations
seldom sway the judgment or shape The
inclinations, and the boys OF New Eng
land,-and i speak as one OF them,
not mercensry beyond the average Of
human kind. We who are in middle
age are not conscious that we were es
pecially sordid or base in our desires
when young. The pleasures which
come 10 the heart from freedom and
health, from home associations aud conf
partnership OF kindred, were as real and
dearly loved by US rs they might be TO
any class of people. The lust Tor gold
was not in our hearts rs the ruling mo-
tive Ollie. Our fathers were not miserS,
nor was mammon our God. We were
not unreasonable in our desires for
wealth, and il we have gained wealth it
has came almost As 4 surprise 10 US
the result of the favorable condition OF
the acc and country in which we live,
rather than because OF deliberate pur-
pose and Oyerweening desire. The
young men OF New England len the
farm on which they were born and which
in early lite they helped 10 ill, not be
cause they would not yield them vast
wealth. but because they would not
yield them that reasonable amount Of
wealth which every man needs tor his
own development and the support oil
those who would in the course OF nature
look 10 them for needed provision. II
was not because farming did not mean
riches. but because farming meant pow
erly that our young men in 50 many IN
stances have refused 10 be farmers. LOOk.
ing upon poverty IS a curse, rs II bSs
always been and is TO day the world over,
that form OF industry which made i, in-
eyitable became. naturally and rightluIy
hateful TO them. Their rebellion was
not against the soil, but against that mar
row and painful condition Of life which
under it, then method OF cultivation
was inseparably connected with il. This,
rs feel and understand ii. is the true
analysis and proper statement OF the
case.
Another reason OF this desertion, on
the part Of the young men. Of agricul-
tursl pursuits Is to be found in the fact
that agriculture as conducted in the pas, +,
has not supplied them with either the
intellectual opportunity or stimulus
which they craved. and c.aved too with
reason.
This is a New England Fair, but New
England is not here. She is represented
here to-day by the lew, not the many
by the intelligent and prosperous and en-
ierprisins, not ~ the average farmer.
Here and there one has come, bat on
either side and all around him scores
have not come. lie will be benefited, but
these will get no impulse. no knowledge,
no ambition from this days gathering.
They have neither contributed to nor
will they benefited by this entertainment.
Proceed further. and ask why are they
not here Tie answer is his. lack Of
desire. the result Of ignorance. has held
some; poverty. having for its parent the
same cause, others; the absence Of any
thing worthy Of exhibition lar more.
Looking at these grounds to day one
might think that New England is full OIL
progressive agriculturis,s. and her acres
but 50 many gardens; but il you will
LOOK over the heads OF this audience and
beyond these grounds, where the mass
OF the people actually live, YOU will see
that ignorance and poverty and lack Of
ambition arc embodied on all sides. In
houses implanted and gardens grown to
weeds; in fences neglected and orchards
unrenewed; in siunted stock and impoy-
eriShed acres; in unditcsed meadows
and ungatheIed harvest; in all these
signs you will behold proof that the
knowledge of New England agriculture
is but superficial. which prompt me 10
say that the average farmer has been,
and is to-day, stupidity slow 10 act in
these directions in which action means
success.
Such being the condition of things,
the Young men had a right to leave the
farms. They had no right to remain on
them. even Is one has no right TO remain
ignorant when he can become learned,
or poor, If BY honest effort he can become
rich.
The true way TO prevent this desertion
Of SO essential and noble pursuit on the
part Of our young men is not found in
exhorting them 10 beware Of cities and
wealth, but by providing some way by
which wealth and culture shall come to
them while engaged in agricultural pur
suits. When our young men shall see
that in arborculiure, Horticulture, horticul-
ture, stock raising and other refined and
educative branches OF husbandry, they
can earn one, two, three, five and ten
thousand dollars per year, who supposes
that the cry will longer be heard in the