The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-04-20

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other animals that does not find its coun-
lcrpart in insects; while these, again,
present us with many most remarkable
habits and pccularitics which find no
palnIIcl in the rest of the animal king
dom, and prove them to be most worthy
the students attention.
could dwell for hours ON the remark
able diversity Of their habits. From the
aesthetic side, the study of insects, aS the
study of any other branch of natural
history, eIcyntcs and enlightcns. II dis,
pcls prejudice and superstition, and
affords happiness and instruction. IT
more quickly than amy other teaches 10
"Iind tongues in trees, sermons IN stones
and GOOD in every thing" In my own eX-
pcricncc have known of several hypo-
chondriacs made happy and hearty by
the mental enjoyment and the physical
exercise that resulted from getting IN
tcrcslcd in the collecting and study OF
natural history objects, and it iSa sig
nilicant fact that many of our greatest
scientific minds, Us Charles Darwin,
Herbert spencer, etc, began their sclcll,
thc careers, and developed their love OF
investigation by the study of insects
IT DEVELOPS TIE OBSERVING FACULTIES
As | shall presently show, some knowl-
edge of entomology is absolutely essen
,ial to the agriculturist, and II study OF
it should form part of every farmer edu-
cation. Those engaged in other pursuits
are not so vitality concerned about in
sccts, and generally fail to see what ben
eft can come from the study ol them.
have known parents to discourage their
children from the stud Y of these little
animals because it promised no practical
benefit But the same argument would
apply to the majority OF the literary ana
scientific pursuits that occupy lnieIll-
cent people; and Judged by this narrow
and material standard mostol that winch
is taught in our schools is vaIuelcsS.
What does the butcher, or the grocer, or
the baker, on, mdccd the ordinary bust
ness man. intent ON accommodating a Tor
tune, or cngrusscd with the cares and
necessities OF life, care about geography
or geology, or chemistry, or astronomy
or mathematics? What connection have
these, or the fine arts, or philosophy,
with his pursuit? Does 1t mel p ms b'ISI-
ness to know the source Of the Nile or
the nature of the Polar seas to soar
among the stars and conceive ot the
growth and death of worlds; to know
the are and history of this bait OF matter
ON which he trcads? Will his coal burn
any better for the knowledge oi its origin
and nature? Does it help him, in drlv-
ng bargain, to know how many kings
ENGLAND has had or when washington
died Polite literature has he'll most
important place in the civilized world
history, though i! has no connection with
amy of the practical affairs "l lie. lct
every person in my audience recognizes
the advantages of all such studies and
the child who is deferred from them be-
cause they are not profitable, IN inc
| moncy-gctting sense, Is very apt 10 pe'
come a narrow minded and mlscrIy man,
incapable of that large enjoyment OF llie
that follows the full development OF ms
faculties. Says Shakespeare, what Is
man, it his chief good and market for
his time he but to sleep and feed? A
cast--no more" There is no sadder
sight than Sordid and pcnurious child.
In short, rs have elsewhere said, IN
common with all the other sciences, en-
tomology, viewed solely as an educator
cnrichcs the human mind hy adding
TO its store Of knowledge, and has few,
if any, equals as a means OF developing
the observing faculties OF the young
The Hfc-habits of insccts-thc,r won
lcrful mctamorphoscs, their instructive
industries furnish ample food Tor re-
lection and for our natural love OF the
curious and marvellous; and 1t IS sur
prising that the fact has not been more
iuIIy recognized in our educational Sy'-
TENS Botany has long since han hcr
place in our schools, and her import
ancc as II means of mental training ~
nxt ignored. Yet lessons in animal me
the histories of living, scntlent, ac-
tive creatures can certainly be maze u"
instructive and entertaining aS lessons III
ycgctativc plant-liic, and should receive
A. much or more attention