Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-07

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that il allows and insures; in the frank,
honest eompanionships it encourages ;
and in the knowledge aud love OF Him
who presides benignly over hill and plain,
house and told. in these the agricultural
ist finds wealth which rust cannot cor
rupt nor thieves break through and steal
The wealth Tor which ! plead, which
every faithfully and in,elligently follow
cd industry should Yield, IS that amount
able 10 satisfy Just and reasonable minds.
To put the agriculture Of the county
east and west on such basis that it shall
Weld this, should be the earnest effort.
as il must be the desire, OF every patri-
otto citizen.
There are ia our midst class oil men,
composed OF representatives of almost
every prominent pursuit and profession,
who are directly engaged in this en-
deavor, having been fortunate in ac-
curing large means, being intelligent
and filled with a true love OF country
lite. they have devoted large sums OF
money and not II little thought to The
Improvement of New England agricul'
lure. To the ignorant and such as gauge
the value of The effort by the financial re-
turns alone, their enterprise seems fool
ish. and an epiihet has been put upon
them which served, indeed. only To deS'
cribe the ignorance OF those who used H.,
i refer TO the phrase fancy farmers.
am glad OF this opportunity TO publicly
express the sense of my Indebtedness.
rs farmer aud farmers son. aud The
indebtedness OF the country al large, TO
those who have spent their money SO
freely in behalf of the public interest.
Especially in the introduction oil improv
ed breeds of cattle aud sheep. swine and
horses, and in the populsrizing oil practi-
cal chemistry do |. aud every agricultu-
rist. stand indebted TO them. Their
blunders. which some seem To regard rs
matter to point their satire, appear 10 he
only the inevitable accidents attending
all new enterprises and INFESTED methods,
while successes have resulted IN The
benefit of all. The brielest examination
OF the fruits and flowers. the cattle and
sheep pens ON these grounds. and especi'
ally an instruction of the magnificent
horse stock here exhibited. will revea! TO
any thoughtful visitor at this fair how
much We all owe 10 these men by whose
public spiritedneSs such II magnificent
display has alone been made possible.
The fact Is, there is not herd OF cattle.
or an improved breed OF sheep, or Il
crate OF elegant fowls, OF family oil
noted horses here TO day which does not
owe its introduction and existence 10 the
enterprise OF these men.
The interest which these gentlemen
have taken in agriculture 10 valuable not
only because OF the results it has actual
" wrought, but because it proves that
the love of the soil and OF the innocent
and healthy mode Of lite inseparably
connected with It's cultivation is strong
in the hearts Of men.
That this is fact. no careful observer
OF American tendencies can fail 10 see.
The wild craving of city life and city
customs which has been distinctive
feature Of American Society is dying
away. Anew and healthier longing is
driving it to the wall. We have begun
10 learn and confess that city life kills
good people as well as bad; that ii un
deimines health aud shortens life; that
its successes as truly AS its failures bow
men TO the grave that its days are not
periods OF healthy toll. but of feverish
exettion which So inriamos the blood
that il burns slumber, which is the sweet
core OF night, out OF ii. From these
causes the denizens OF our cities are be-
ginning more and more 10 look toward
the country. There is Il growing yearn-
ing in their eyes for its sweet fields, and
clear kies and wide, Tree spaces. where
time is divided into hours and not into
appointments. and nights are real nights,
dewy, cool and still; night whose throne
is silence and at the gentle movement OF
whose sceptre the wakeiul earth bushes
Ia
sweet repose. Such longings, l say. are
stirring mems hearts and many are be-
ginning to inquire why live forever In
this turmoil and strife when quietueSS
and peace, that finest half of heaven.
lie within twenty miles Of me. lmpelled
by such impulses. only half confessed or
recognized; and also for the sake OF
their children's welfare, the jewellers in
cities are beginning to push out into the
country. Strong US this movement al
ready is, it has by no means reached lis
lull proportions. and l look to see the
tide swell until it has swept half the pop
ulation Of Boston into The outer suburbs
and the farther country. Already the banks
OF the Hudson. Housatonic. Connecticut
and Merrimack are dotted with evidences
of this reaction, and in the inland towns
the same proofs are being multiplied.
Another cause also might be instanced.
1t is found in the desire of aged people
10 escape from the cities. IL have gain
cd" said man to me once. "a fair shal G
OF worldly honor and my wealth is abund
ant. but ! have reached that period Of