Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-05-13
ADDRESS.

RRoruERs AND SIsrERs-We should
sincerely thank, and feel profoundly
grateful, to those Patrons of Husbandry
who first conceived the idea, and exc
cuted the organization of a Grange. 1t
is a settled conviction of the human
mind, that bene6cent Creator is con-
stantly bringing into existence those
things which are essential to the good
of mankind.
1t is doubtless painfully evident to
many of you, and Of the agriculturlst gen.
orally throughout our country,that there
is a growing disposition upon the part
of our sons and daughters, to abandon
the honored calling of farming. Now
Why is it so! 1t is not because farming
is not as honorable, and as high toned
or independent as other pursuits in life.
1t is not because its labors are more ar
duous or perpleXing: for a man TO make
anv business success, lie must give 1t
his unceasing attention and best efforts.
1t is not because it has less in it to in
spire ambition, or to call forth all those
graces of character that render us, as
human beings, attractive and loveable
1t is not because there are not involved
in it, those deep and intricate mysteries
in science, which call for the exercise OF
profound thought, and ingenious study,
for | can assure you, that TO become a
frst-class farmer, possessing the skill and
genius to improve your lands, and the
taste to beau,ify your homesteadS, to
fully comprehend the constituent parts
of Your soil, TO analyze the same, and
10 provide means to aid and sustain
their productive capacity, demands the
highest order of human intelligence
Where in the order of Gods providence
is there more to call forth the gratitude
of our nature, the playful pleasures OF
our largest fancies, the quickest emo
tons of our purcst passions, than in
contemplating the golden harvest, the
lowing herds, the verdant fields, the
deep aud giant forest, or the bold Cliffs
of the rugged mountain.
1t was and is therefore manifest, that
some scheme must be adopted to arrest
that tendency of the young men and
women, aud even among many more
advanced in life to abandon the staid
pursuit of farming. The introduction
OF the Grange was most opportune; and
its effects have been most happy!
1t has acted as a stimulant to our de-
clining energies, it gives buoyancy to
our depressed hopes and we are en-
couraoed to believe that the Grange is
an Omnipotent fundamentally in arres-
ting the downward tendency OF The
most important occupation OF man, and
will prove of infinite benefit to him, by
giving encouragement to every impulse
of his nature, by rev;ving aud training
his social, moral, intellectual and indus
trial habits.
1t being a secret organization-which
is only an addition or Improvement to
the farmers club-invested it with nov
city, excited curiosity, made it doubly
attractive, and produced an incentive to
tenaciously adhere to it.
1t may be well for US to take into
consideration the gregariousness OF our
nature, which is doubtless greatly stlm7
ulated by the facility with which the
accounts OF the sociable and other amuse-
ments of towns aud cities are dissent
mated by the daily and weekly papers,
causing an impulsive disquietude, and
a5ating interest in our God given occu-
patton.
In view Of tie foregoing circumstan-
ces. every judicious effort and commend
able device should be adopted TO invest
rural lite with pleasure and interest.
Our homes and surroundings should be
made attractive by the highest embel-
lishments of art, aud the atmosphere we
breathe should be made fragrant by the
perfume of choice exotics. The neat
ness and symmetry of our fields should
be made TO command our admlratlon'
and their fertility be the acme OF our
ambition.
There is also great gain in all this,
you are not only producing reconcllia-
tion, and investing the domestic circle
and your property with attractive
charms. but you are also adding to Its
material worth.
Our roads to and through our farms
should be made, to invite rather than
deter US from going forth upon those
brief journeys of business or pleasure,
which both necessity and inclination
lead US to take. There is no taxation to
which farmer should more unmurmur-
ingly submit, than to that for making
good roads, for there are but few things
which add so much to the beauty, con-
veuienoe, comfort and pleasure OF coun-
try life.
Good roads, first class schools, Sun
day schools lyceums, convenient church
es, supplied with instructive christian
preachers. are more desirable and eco
nomical than courts, doggeries, Jaii'
and peniien 'iaries; to lessen the latter
you must increase the former, and as l
have intimated it would be economy to
do O. Thaoo oro oon,o of the moral