The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-27

win which educational work is carried on
but the classical education OF three cen
turtles ago has until recently held undis
nt,ted away over the minds OF the educate
peonle Of the world. II the trend and al
rection OF education be changed ID sucn
way as to render 1t more practical ma.
not the masses secure for themselves
! competency and that leisure that ~ nee
essary for the cultivation Of the MIND an'
! tbe heart which are the primary objects o
| our labors, 49,.
Let MS approach this question from
| general and from a special standpoint ane
/ consider the relations of our producers y
/ the wants OF the world. Compare the ski
| of the farmer with the skill OF the arusan
| the manufactures. and the learning OF the
farmer with the intelligence OF the pro-
LESSONS.
The world OF nature and the works OF
art mike up all OF those surroundings ~
which we live and of which We are part
Tho liberality Of nature renders our ar.S
and our Industries possible In those arts
that lie closest to nature, such as the ar.
OF agriculture may be termed natural. ,
while those which but remotely depend
upon her fostering care are known as the
"liberal" or "nne" arts. The natural ana
most useful arts are agriculture, aren't
lecture and manufacturing, while SOUP
ture, painting, music, poetry, meaicine'
ETC., represent the fine arts that engage the
attention OF the professional world All
OF these arts are In process oil deNeiop-
rnent and are more or less crude IN pro.
portion to their age and the concentrates
intelligent effort enlisted In their support
No doubt that in his primitive state
man practiced the rudest form OF architec-
ture and agriculture, which lacked every
element of artistic sense Any work done
that lacks forethought. deXterity ana
knowledge OF the conditions becomes mere
drudgery, because 1t does not employ inc
mind of the operator. hence the BIBLICAL
expression OF "hewers of wood and draw
ers of water" The assumption that purely
physical work is deadening to the mental
and moral senses is verified both by pro
fame and sacred history. Labor Is dignifed
by the skill that directs 1t, by the pa
thence that supports 1t and by the good
purposes for which 1t is performed. But
Just in proportion as knowledge and men
tai activity are added to labor is the char
acter and usefulness OF that work in
creased. That calling Is most artistic,
most useful, that provides for the greatest
exercise of the mind, and 1t is worthy of
note that In many quarters the opinions
of thinking people are fast changing as TO
the relative merits of the callings and pro-
LESSONS that require the greater genius.
To conceive in the minds eye golden
wheat field, with its laborers, machinery,
work stock, and harvest, and to spread
this beautiful scene upon canvas in glow
ing colors is work of art and worthy CT
commentator. but to conceive such
scene and to put 1t upon the map of ma
turo and work it out in the soil, in bone
anG flesh and with real machinery, is the
81 eater art of the two-both requiring
patience and tedious labor-but after all,
the picture is but copy of the reality and
the painter copyist of the former. Can
the genius and skill of Rosa Bonheur
surpass the ideality and skill of the breed
ers who, after long years of thought and
labor, produce those magnificent animals
whose forms and colors she so faithfully
portrayed upon her canvas? No. The ar
tistic merit of the one does not exceed that
d the other; painting is not finer art
han enlightened agriculture. Measured
by artistic standards. both are but ex-
pressions of ideals and mark our prog
TESS in our search for the useful and the
beautiful.
But some carping critic may say that
his is merely theory; that there Is no
bread and butter In such an argument !
Ny friends. such critic undertakes and !
lebases mankind. i admit that we will
all pay good price for bread and butter
Ind clothing, but the soul of man de- ,
hands something else. and in his daily |
employment the inner man cries out for
ONE use and exercise as we'll as do tl., |
fttimes overtaxed bones and muscles.
The highest success, the greatest produc-
i've capacity, the greatest economy of eff
ort can be secured by the union of mind
With labor temploy the whole man. This
Jew brings us to consider the Importance
4 science to any art. Art is doing; science
S knowing. An art is what" science is
how - Art is the body; science is the
oul The work is the result; science the
The OK that lives from day to
ay in british Indifference to the world
round him and the Ignorant peasant who
'orks for his daily wage without fore
bought or high sense of life. are near
D each other.
In the days of the Roman republic
Ugh place was awarded those engaged in
grlculture because of the skill and in
diligence employed in its pursuit as COM
AIRED with other occupations of that day.
low does agriculture now compare in
XIII ana intelligence employed with her
lster industries? Does she occupy and
ommand place of honor among the arts
Europe or America? While electricity.
manufactures and other in
i'"'N "uN "uCSu greatly within the
ISL three or four centuries. agriculture
as made too little progress. 1t has been
'rmed the debated industry" because
Lille the other industries have derived
lie greatest benefit from the develop-
eht or the sciences that relate to them
ir population has been slow to adopt and
Sc the scientific discoveries bearing upon
srlcnltural practice. During the times .
the Roman republic the greatest respect
as showI for those who practiced farm
. ana the industry was built I'm nv the
icrts OF the scholars and lnyesfieators :
that DAY. The best literature OF mar !
me was grounded on and inspired Inv .
,ticultural matters. Hear Cato describe y
TN enthusiasm the agricultural conIi-
ons OF fhat day: IL come now 10 the Y
essure OF husbandry in which | vastly
'nsht riley are not interrupted by old I
81. ana they seem to be pursuits in which II
wise mans life should be spent. The 4
lrth does not rebel agains, a,ithor,tv. N b
gives BACK with but just usury =
n"t IL receives The gains of husbandry !,
. not what exclusively commends II :,
az Snarmea with the nature and produce .
,s sn'ue OF the soil, In my opinion there .
n os no happier life, not only because .
y siilase OF the earth Is salutary to me 4
:, rom inc pleasure 1t yields. Nothing q
D., - NC more profitable, nothing more beau V
M, nv mat well cultivated farm" Ii
ms farmer and poet also gives eyidence s,
practical knowledge OF Agriculture c,
ne says OF rotation OF crops: Let ihe z
i -, SOW next years wheat crop I'm tba q,
.u "nere he has just gathered his heans h