Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-23
WAICHMAN STATE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY 1874

Indispensable tO make them equal associates
of all men Of learning, or with even any ia
vorcd member Of their own familyP Every
day gentlemen are trying TO get enrolled
among good farmers, all the while afraid of
the morning dew, and very innocent of man
nal labor aud they do not succeed but far
mers, TO bc gentlemen, have only to try;
that is to say, there is no impcdiment in
their way 10 sound and polite learning
which, after character, is the highest distinc-
tion among gentlemen. or. what is better.
among men and Christians.
Think not to supply the omission of
the school and college by self-education.
True, it can be done rs fruit can be ripcued
in winter, but only at a fearful cost of labor,
beyond what would have sutliced scasonably
applied, with competent help.
II is undeniahle that thorough education
largely increases the hraiu-power of man,
quickens his apprehension, and extends his
mastery over himself rs well rs over his fell
lows. Farmers often aid their weaker neigh
bors. aud give q lit TO those crippled 10y any
misfortune, but they should remember that,
in all the intellectual struggles of life from
him that hath not. shall be- taken away even
that which he hath" no pity is shown to the
vanquiShed, no help can hc given 10 the i'm
becility of adult Ignorance, and, il any of
their SONS are distmced in the fields Of
knowledge, in high debate or poddiue sci-
ence IN making bargains. or making love. or
in the race for the houors to bee won in any
career among mankind. the chances are that
the wretched rcproach should TAN upon the
fathers, that they were unmindful of the
noblest parental obligations the duty of
thoroughly educating their children.
GOLD MEDALS ron MODEL rAuMs
There is never time. from youth to age
when the best, the supremcst examples are
not the most liie-stirriug pruyocativcs of hu-
man progress, or of advancement in ciyiliza-
ton in science and art. In morals and re-
ligion. Nowhere are they more potent than
among the clustering industries of agricu-
ture. Annually you hang out the banners of
yonr society radiant with the pictures Of
successful labor, and of % hounte0u, harvest
The crowd You magnetic and bring together
behold the several standards of excellence.
which must be equallcl or surpassed 10 OBJ
tain distinction MAY ! venture TO offer
what all feel so competent go offer and go
few competent 90 accept that is 90 say.
single Wofd Of ad,icey let me- them com
mend To- the executive branch of Your society
ihe propncty of appointing committee 10
examine annually as To- thu best farm iu the
state, to which their attention shall be I'M
vltcd, and report its extent. its products. and
the system and skill manifested n It's mar-
agement Then here, at your annual icsti-
val, and after am Appropriate announcement
of the merits of the owner and manager Of
the farm, publicly bestow upon him gold
medal, at costof not exceeding 500 perhaps.
but Of priceless value as amedal of honor and
more precious as q decoration suspended hv a
ribbon in some modest home, than any stars
andrihhons ever worn 10y blue-hlooded aristoc-
racy. This would avery simple ceremony.
but impressive and do mot think ! can err
IN surprising that it might prove the crown
ing attraction of the day as well as produc-
tive of permanent benefit 10 all the farms in
the state. Year by year the star farms and
the honored farmer would become objects nf
study, observation and appreciation. The
science and economy developed would find
faithful student, working out similar prob
lens in many distant fields.
The number Of votes a candidate for Of
fee obtains, as to relative merits, sometimes
records lie, but the examination marks of
your commission would Doe more mlallble.
and YOU would have n real phenomenon. ask
ing for but one term, and that when aud
where it would do the most good The fame
of a politician often ends as soon as DE is
rotated outward, but a gold medal won from
this society would confer fame 10 endure. at
least to the third and fourth generation
Vermont should continue to he a hive Of
agricultural industry, and hold ont the right
hand of fellowship to every skillul me
chanic to every entarprisiug manuiactureg
and to every courageous miner thereby Ia
ensure that material prosperity necessary 10
the comforts and independence of life; and
here anongour evergreen clad hills We should
also seek to continue and to augment all the
instrumentalties of the broadest education.
as well as all the incentive, to tine most ele-
waited charactcr-necessary to make a small
state great-to make a great nation imper-
iShable