Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-06-20
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College.

| TIES OF THAT COLLEGE,
The members of the Lee and Maury
Literary Societies of the ''Virginia Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College" at Blacks
burg, Va, invited "Harry" Tucker to de-
liver the annual address before their So
cieties on the 18th of June this year. He
accepted the invitation, and in compliance
Herewith, delivered an excellent address
on the Importance of education to the
farmers of Virginia. We publish below
the substance of this address, and need not
comment on it, as all will read it and Judge
of its merits for themselves. The subject
was appropriate to the occasion, and it was
discussed philosophically, and clearly pre-
scented, and delivered in his usual easy an
graceful style.
He spoke substantially as follows -
II. ST. GEO. fuckers ADDRESS.
Young Gentlemen Of the Lee and Marry
Literary Societies:
When your fattering invitation to adj
| dress you was received by me, many sub
jects pressed themselves upon my copside-
| ration as both proper and profitable to be
discussed before you. Questions of living
interest and entertainment for the hour, /
| feel, might be invoked for this occasion,
and in their treatment, ] might hope to
| claim your approval and sanction, but
when l remember that the majority of
those to whom my remarks are addressed
are the sons of Virginia farmers, all other
subjects must be discarded in the deep
| &c ffIN
| Of Education to the Virginia Farmers"
No question, in my Judgment, should ap-
peal more strongly to the affections and
patriotism of our people than this. Pater-
nal affection and pride of country alike de-
mand the larger enforcement of ed ucation
| upon the attention of our children.
When the son of a farmer shows some
aptitude for books, and seems anxious to
enlist in the ranks of some one of the
learned professions, the common school,
the high school, the college, and the Uni
versity, are willingly invoked to contribute
their stores of learning in melting the mind
and stimulating the ambition of the young
candidate for professional preferment.
| But perchance there is another son in the
same family for whom professional en-
slavement has no charms. Taken with his
first breath was draught Of independence
IudI DrOOKS no RESTRAINT.
To him there can be nothing of happi-
ness away from the scenes of his boyhood,
at the old homestead. A child of nature,
all nature is but his plaything. No skies
are SO bright as those at home no water
so sweet as that which flows from the
rock-bound spring at the foot of the hill,
or that comes fresh from the ''old 0aken
bucket that hangs in the well ; no society
so welcome as that about the hearth-stone
where prattling infancy and sedate old
age mingle their common joys and blend
their common grief. Such an one, not
suited for "treason or strategy" is at
once consigned to manual labor, and edu-
cation upon him is regarded as shameful
waste in the expenditure of money.
l stand here to-day as the advocate of
this boy, and urge his claims upon you,
not only for his own sake, but for Fiat of
| his State which claims his fullest develop
ment.
Nor is the education for which we speak
| to be misunderstood. 1t is not learning
or the acquisition of knowledge These
may follow it. 1t is in its derivitive sense
the dralcing forth Of the latent popers of
| the nsdn-the mental and moral exercises
by which these latent powers are develop
ed, strengthened and enlarged, is educa-
ton. The faculties of the mind are numer-
Gus. Each must be developed if the mind
is to be rounded and symmetrical and, in-
deed, while distinct faculties in them
selves, each, is, in measure, dependent on
the others-'td distinct as the pillows, one as
the Sea-
The TeceptiUe power of the mind is great
ly to be valued but of what advantage is
it, if the perceptive faculty be wanting
What advantage to the miller to- receive
the grist, if he be unable to determine it's
kind, and the hopper to which It shall go.
The gymnasium is an Important factor in
the physical development Of youth, but the
continued use of the parallel bars to the
exclusion of other practices. would result
in the development of the chest at the ex-
pense of the other parts of the body. So
with the mental faculties. Each must be
developed to its highest tension, that all
may constitute a rounded whole. But this
is not all. Look at that engine standing
in the shop, finished and completed, and
ready to do the work for which it was in
tended. If, without regard TO the necessity
of track to run upon, and an intelligent
hand to direct it, you open the valves and
"let her ge ~ it becomes at once an engine
of destruction. But when put it upon the
right track, with an intelligent hand at the
lever, it speeds its way joyously in accom-
plishing the objects of civilization. The
human mind, il its perfect Development
is as great engine, full of power and
able to achieve the greatest results. But
the motive power that prompts its action
must be pure and noble. The human
heart, the handspring of intellectual &C.
tivity, must ha rightly trained in the grace,
of virtue and when the hanian soul. en-
riched with human virtues, stimr'. ates the
mind, now educated in all If it's faculties
to its highest aspiratie-,s humanity NAV
claim its highest endorsements and have
s shoSv e ~ Lowed" even in the courts
oas.op ,or which | speak, in which mind
az Il soul are 10th cultivated and enlarged.
Be satisfied with nothing less you can
strive for nothing higher.
Education to the farmer is important,
and necessary in three particulars
First, for his own culture and happiness.
, Second, for his own pecuniary advantage,
: resulting from scientific knowledge OF
agriculture and
Third, for his political protection and
salvation.
First. Cut off from socety-except
that of his own family-he must seek from
himself that which under other circumstan-
ces he might hope to derive from others.
Ii the mind and soul be allowed to lie dor
mant, the man is dwarfed and self-reflec
ton is impossible. Avenues TO countless
pleasures are closed to him forever, and all
( nature, with her smiles and sunshine and
limitess resources for pleasure, seems only
dull and Improbable.
But not only does he owe it to himself
. in his own self-culture. to educate his mind
and heat to the fullest extent, but duty to
his State and Maker demands it of him.
X K
: Second The importance of scientific ed
ucation to the farmer-in the relations Of
chemistry and geology to the soil, atmos
phere and the vegetable kingdom-I com
! mend to your earnest attention. BY the
; aid of chemical analysis ascertain what the
! plant eats, and from what sources its food
must be derived. With these two factors
in the problem ascertained, its solution is
: simple.
But urge the importance of education
upon you, young gentlemen, for your
political protection and salvation.
Flocking, each by himself. the farmer is
the easy prey Of the political schemeI. With
every class Of the community, lawyers,
doctors, merchants and mechanics, organi-
zed for their self-protection, the farmer
. | =, ,oa hla RI ooro b;pa m ,oe;,t tl, ,s