Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-02-28
Address Of DR.. J. r. Outlaw, to the
Palmyra Granse, Patrons Of Hus.
handry. bi.s uca s s451t


-ai q Hlr 90 -s!f - 4stfn-l- VIZ el
PALMYRA, TENN, Feb. l6, 1874.
DEAR CHRoNIcLE:-At stated
meeting of Palmyra Grange, February
14th, Patrons of Husbandry. the en-.
closed paper was read. by DIR. J. F.
OUTLAW, Lecturer of Wilson Grange
by request was granted us for publica,
ton. The unanimous adoption Of q
resolution required me to request its
publication in the columns of your ex.
cellent paper. asdI ssow 6 al5afss4,
i Yours very respectfully, hil.
,4H A. ELDRIDGE,
Sec'y. Of Palmyra Grange.
BRoTHERs AND SISTERS OF THE
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.- in this
paper l design, in my feeble manner,
to elucidate some of the advantages
and pleasures arising from the study of
the sciences in connection with agricul-
ture. f
1t has been the custom of farmers
from time immemorial, in the eduea-
ton of their children, to regard a
knowledge of the sciences as an un-
necessary appendage to the character,
and a wanton waste of time and money
upon those designed to pursue the oc-
cupation of farming. The fond parent,
under the consoling belief that he is
doing his whole duty, bestows compar-
atively no attention to the culture of
his child's intellectual faculties, salts
fed with developing his physical pow
ers by inuring him to hard manual
labor, late and early, that he may be
able to endure hardship and be of great
strength. This. with very imperfect
knowledge of spelling, reading and
writing, with the establishment of in
dustrious habits of body, constitute
all the qualifications necessary for
first-class farmer. The physical train
ing and habits of industry, however,
arc sine qua nons' to success in life
with any avocation. Proud of his
superior qualifications as farmer, he
enters his occupation, pursuing the
old, hard beaten path of his ancestors,
and BY constant toll, year after year,
without any advantages derived from a
knowledge of the. great laws of nature,
SO beautifully elucidated by physical
science, plods on through life about as
he commenced, without ever having
entertained a single thought of elevat-
ing the Intellectual standard of his vo-
cation or the promotion of the welfare
of his children beyond that of his own,
teaching them the same traditionary
dogma, that science is of no use to the
farmer. AT his death, his mantle rests
upon his posterity and he bequeaths to
them his little farm, which through
sheer ignorance of the laws of nature,
he has totally despoiled ofits fertility,
and which they are compelled, perhaps,
to abandon from want of that knowl-
edge necessary to reclaim it. The
eradication of such views and dispeling
the thick mist of ignorance that blind
so many on this subject, is most diff
cult /; much of it being the teaching of
parents. II can be met only by the es-
tablishing Of scientific agricultural
schools. What an establishment
would it be to our beloved country !
What delightful, exalted influence it
would have upon our dear children,
were we to establish school of science
at every Grange. This may seem to
some premature thought, but it is
not. The first great object Of our
order is to advance the interest of the
farming class. This cannot be done
more successfully and permanently by
any other course. The elevation of
the standard of education among
farmers is indispensable to the welfare
and prosperity of our order. More
good would flow from establishing
scientific schools throughout our
country than from any other one object
that can be obtained. United as We
are and identified in each others pres
ent interest and future welfare, pecul-
iarly adapts our glorious order to the
accomplishment of such purpose.
Any Grange, having a membership
of one hundred, by raising its monthly
dues with moderation and small do
nation from those who are able and
willing, would give sum sufficient to
establish a good school which should
be free to all the children of the
Grange. make this depression from
the subject for the purpose of making
the suggestion, being fully persuaded,
in my own mind, of its practicability
and vast importance to our present and
future prosperity, hoping it will receive
that consideration its importance mer-
its. The study of the different sciences
in connection with farming and the
application of their great truths to ag-
riculture, is of direct pecuniary i'm
portance not only source of pure
delight to the enlightened, Eeditative
mind, but of the utmost ability to the
welfare and happiness of the whole
people.
The refined, exquisite pleasure, SO
congenial to rational thinking men and
women, arising from the Investigation
of the principles Of science and the
application of their truths to our vari-
GUS wants and requirements of life, is
in direct proportion to our advance.
ment in learning. What solace, con.
ISOLATION and comfort would be offered
in the leisure hours of farmers, were
they familiar with science, in contem.
plating the curious, novel, interesting
and sublime objects presented by the
various departments of physica
science The pleasing variety o.
wonders, the astonishing truths tha
charm the mind and beckon it onwarC
and inward. exhibit on every page o.