Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-19

I red 10 Berlin as q back place, To he sure
he turned it into compliment admirably,
but (begging his pardon) he had no bust
ness to have such an opinion. Back places
in the sense he evidently meant are mostly
among the things of the past. Years ago
people that lived far from the great centres
of civilization were considered to be in the
ack woods, and when Vermont had pro-
crossed so far as to have many well cult
waited farms and intelligent farmers, the
people of Massachusetts thought of the
state as a place of dense untathOmable
woods filled with bears and Indians, with
here and there the cabin Of II settler, the
real back woodsmen. But now, with its
numerous villages, its railroad and tele-
graphic communications, whose influences
are far-reaching and irresistible, there are
people in every town who possess common
sense and business habits and talents, this
is shown in their work whatever it be,
and ordinary intelligence with which they
can appreciate something new in the way
of ESSAYS. etc. We sometimes feel keenly
our disadvantages, but it is not part OF
our business to know the ms and outs OF
science (prrhaps we practice more than
we understand), but because President
does understand them we are not to sup
pose that he can pillow all acre of land with
the skill OF Bro Andrews. That is not a
part OF his work-yet quite rs essential to
the growth of corn as IL knowledge of all
the processes by which the elements con
tanned in the soil are utilized in that
growth. We concur with Editor link
ham, however, that ''Often those in any
profession get valuable ideas from those
outside of their own vocation"
The city gives greater advantages for
culture, and in tue best society there are
refining Influences much to be desired, ann
In the best of country homes-if one can
| yet at the real life of the hume-will bt
| found intelligent and cultivated minds aud
hearts with perhaps wider range ct
Intellec ual ability than we get the credJ
Of. I have known OF ministers of grea
talent from large places going to II smai.
country church for II single sermon OF
lecture, and tinding their best was not too
deep TO he understood, one especially cant
pr, pared as WAS judged, 10 take things
easy Tor once, feeling sure that the audi
ence would not know the difference, but T.
is certain the sermon WITS changed after 81
! lew minutes conversation with some o.
he peupe, aud lie preached a sermon
though lul # thought AMI brilliant metz
phur-,-a vigorous representation OF Scrip
| ural truths, Was understood and apprcC.
aLed by his audience OF farmers and the
| families. Another whose profession wOu!,
infer Il college education enough do no
know that he has one) iectured in one Q
these "back places and astOnished IT,
school children by giving the Meditelrane
SEA as the southern boundary OF Eiglui G
While we as Il class, do not decry edu
caticn (sadly feeling the need Of iD we d,
not take kindly to being considered ignur
ant. Given good common sense, goot
common school education (and many have
more), good books, papers ami magazine
10 the right, to the left and before us, "
can grasp ,he ideas which the scholar put
forth, but we cannot always talk them
We are not often put to. the test-not rIt
bed brlght-the friction o: MIND WI h mind
opinion with opinion which quicken
thought aud sharpens the intellect WIN
The active business ur professional maj
encounters, is not ours Living in thea
back places" we DO not .ften have th
privilege OF attending lectures, concer0
and other entertainments, some Tor il
struction, some tor amusement. but ",
turn to our books aud papers. ihe pres
Is The great educating and enlighltnlI,,
agency, and when rightly used refining It
we'll as teaching.
A friend was speaking of the farmers q
Il certain town near a non nal school a
being far better educated tran those il
ST me other sections; but that they WEI
not SO good business men, not so rncrgrti,
and hpIInr Tho -,
was made that they were better neighbors
nut was hardly admitted. Naturally th,
question arises, wherein are they the bette
Tor tier educationP Perhaps it increase:
heir capabllly Of enjoyment. 1t should
but would not that at least make then
b tier nelghborsP We must use what W,
get be it more or less il is the use OF whn
knowledge we possess which makes on
fields productive, our homes pleasant ant
attractive. We cannot all sit on the from
seat but in the old district school hou,.
he back seat was often the seat of honor
always. excepting the teachers desk; bu
alas! the best places hold so few. An,
those who fiji them often seem to lact
something which is given to less favorec
mortuls.
Carlyle. the great historian with all hi
learning, what u curmudgeon he WAS;
fair fame furnished by an unlovey dis
position. Dean Stanley could well hav,
parted with "A lutte of bis education If i
could have been replaced with 4 talent an,
love for music. With all his talent an,
with all his culture it sull stands agains
him that he did net write decent hand
rs unlnleligiDle as Egyptian hleroglyphic
it needs one skilled IN the art to decIph
er it. Though we may sigh for opportun
lles to do as much good as he has done
we feel better when we have the spin
referred to by Sumner Ellis, when he say
Blessed Is the man who can contentedI,
give up what he must"
| fear have not kept to my text very
closely. for / have had IN nina also SON,
of the remarks ON education for farmers
= which have appeared from time to time ii
! our local papers; but | am sure of on
thing, the sermon is long enough.
Mrs. G. +. d.
Sept. IA, 1881.