Milford chronicle., 1883-11-16

"In addressing you on the subject
of higher education for farmers, It is
not 10 propose a culture that will in
cite In them dissatisfaction with their
hard labor to bring out of the earth
the means of support and increase in
wealth; or, to awaken, on the other
hand, an ambition TO seek elsewhere
social existence that possesses more
sensuousness and fascination, though
certainly not the peace and comfort
which are found in the free aud indie
pendent life of the farm. NY main
object is to present an attainable scope
OF knowledge of very high order that
will unite, to the severe practical du-
ties of agriculture, the happiness, just
pride, and magnanimity which the
consciousness of intellectual culture
gives, and which places a man on a
level in intelligence with the higher
phases of society.
The instruction would be given by
lectures in hall or amphitheater, to
class in a body.
These lectures are to be accompa- I
MED by experiments and demOnstra- |
lions by the use of physical and chem /
ical apparatus, drawings, diagrams,
pictures, and patient, plain explana-
tons, so that the average student can
not fail to grasp the particular and
general facts of the subject in hand.
This method of instruction
by lectures, as you are well aware, is
very old, and of unquestiOned success,
for it has been employed from antiq-
uity in teaching philosophy, history,
law, medicine, and all the sciences. x
Its superiority consists in
arOusing the full attention of the pu- !
pils, who construct for themselves the
ideas and doctrines unfOlded to their
by the professor. Knowl-
edge is thus rapidly and satisfactorily
and, withal begets great en-
thusiasm in its pursuit.
II was by this plan that an old Cath
Olic priest, Father Courtney, taught
Descriptive Astronomy to men, wO-
men and children in Dover, mauy
years ago. With his telescope, Orrery,
and drawings. he patiently unfOlded
o us knowledge of the sun AMI plan
IT'S, and at night pointed out the great
iars and consultations of the skies.
Those Of his pupils who live must re-
member his teachings to this day.
Although the proposed insti-
ute Is intended to subserVe the inter
SITS of farmers more especially,yet the
curse will be valuable and attractive
0 other citizens as well, who desire to
tudy or revive their studies in Natur- n
Philosophy and Natural History D
here should be great willingness on
he part of all good citizens, so far as H
ley can. to take an interest in this +
lstitute, in order to give it popularity N
nd success. L
While none should be admitted un- 70
er siXt' en- years of age, there need be &
, limit beyond that. There are, i'm =
ED, multitudes Of people whose pow
5 of acquisition are at the best be-
'een forty-five and sixty years. The
ference between aged and old aged
ople is well defined, says Flourens; col
II old age men have no longer any
entail or bodily reserves of strength"
me aged men, like Gladstone, are at
cir best at seventy. Kant, the great
of philOsOL hers, only distinguished
mself after his siXty-fourth year.
The school should be accessible 10
males also The dtmOnstIative lee
re system is most favOrably adapted
cO-elucatiOn moreover, the pres
&c Of ladies would give increased in
est to the work. 1t is of the great ,r
Importance TO the future welfare of %
ety and the State that higher edu-
ion should be availed to both sex