Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-07-05
EDUCATION I'm ITS RELATION TO
AGRICULTURE.

In order to get a true idea Of edu-
cation we must look at the circum.
stances of the case. We proceed by
way Of analogy.
We know in regard to the seed Of
the plant, that it contains peculiar
and special power within it. Place
it in a proper soil, with the proper
temperature and it will burst forth
into active life. 1t will gather from
earth and air the means of support
and increase. It will fashion the
elements it lays hold of into a defin-
lite shape, and it will pass through
various stages of progress until it
withers away, leaving. however, be-
hind it the means of continuing the
species.
1t may not be easy to say what
that perfect form and perfect life is,
but it is plain to every observer,
that it, as it were. strives after an
ideal form and ideal progress to
which 1t approximates more or less
closely. Man is like that plant.
The living powers within him strive
to obtain a particular form, and to
go through an IDEAL progress, and it
continually strives to attain the ideal
OF these within certain limits.
1t is assured, or assumed, that
the man naturally strives after per.
lection. 1t is assumed that he
must move in some direction, wheth'
er forward, backward or zigzag
and the educator endeavors to keep
the movement in the right direction
The fact is that during the earliest
part of mans life he is helpless and
ignorant, is without the strength
and knowledge necessary to main
tain an independent existence.
Boys and girls should be taught
that it is disgracefnl to be idle, and
dishonorable to be useless.
"True labor is dependent upon
capital but capital is also dependent
upon labor; neither should belittle
or tyrannize the other"
1t is a mistaken idea that educa
ton is thrown away unless they be-
come ministers, lawyers or doctors
that as in olden times when boy
had pretty fair knowledge of read
ing, writing and arithmetic, imagln
ed he knew altogether too much to
be wasting his time raising corn and
potatoes.
Scientific farmers have been sub.
jected to much criticism, bot crit
icisms are only the purifying forces
by which ideals are rendered clear
and potent, so that progress becomes
possible.
A scientific farmer can reach the
same, yes, better results with less
labor than an uneducated man with
more labor he knows what soil is
best adapted to the cultivation Of
different kinds Of grain will achieve
better results of from his knowledge
OF chemistry. We know that agri
culture is the basis of all wealth
prosperity aud luxury. The old way
of farming was mistake. Every
thing was done the wrong way. Ii
was all work and waste, want and
WEAKNESS. In those days when peo
pie lived on corn and bacon, and
when cooking was an unknown art,
eating was necessity, not a pleas.
ure.
Their bodies grew coarse, their
minds lnsipid, their labOrs were re.
warded only by WEAKNESS of body
and yexatiOn of spirit.
The prosperous farmers OF to-day
have reached their present degree
of excellency by vigilant care and
skill. They are jealous in the at.
tainment of their objects and the
improvements they are making are
not only important but permanent,
lasting. The youths should be
educated to poetical truths evolved
from their experience, and taught
that it is no disgrace to till the soil.
There is influence emanating from
association with nature that is emo.
bling in its tendency and they who
work in this great laboratory of ma.
ture are furnished with material for
profound thought.
The relation and association be-
tween the farmer and the profession.
al man should be such as would not
permit one barrier to be between
him.
In conclusion we trust that soon,
very soon, the good, honest, indus.
triOus and scientific farmers efforts
will be more highly appreciated and
his work acknowledged to be of vital
Importance Gettysburg Compiler.
Is Consumption Incurable +?
Read tho follow;po. Mr. ~ n Nforr;,