The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-07-22
FARMERS
Listen tn Instructive and Inter-
estinE Addresses Delivered
bv DrS. Stubbs. Dalrym-
pie and Others.

The farmers institute held here
this week was great success. l,
was not as we'll attended as it should
have been, but those that were
present have no doubt learned a
great deal and will disseminate the
information they have acquired
| among their neighbors and in this
way the seed planted by the insti-
tute instructors will bear good fruit
in due time. The papers read were
Of high order Of excellence and
showed that their authors had given
much thought to the subjects as
signed them.
An address Of welcome was made
by Mayor VIM. Cambell, who spoke
for the town, extending to the Wis
itors most cordial greeting.
The response and introductory
rector of the institute, it is needless
to say, was exceptionally able and
scholarly. AS is we'll known, the
doctor has few equals in the State,
and never fails to instruct and en-
terrain those who listen to him.
He spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t affords me
great pleasure to respond on behalf of the
State to the cordial greeting which has been
extended us We have met for the purpose
dear to the hearts of all tillers of the soil
Our theme is agriculture: song is peace
plenty and prosperity. We aim t" develop
upon broader and more intensified and diver
sted lines our chosen profession. feeling
sured that when the agriculture OF this State
is prosperous, all other trades and profes-
sions will share its profits.
A distinguished traveller found upon the
walls of one of the Museums of Belfast, a
unique but painfully true picture illustrative
of the great burdens which the agriculturst
has to carry. On the top of the picture was
the king, in royal robes, a diadem his
head and in his hand a sceptre, issuing from
his mouth was the legend 81 rule for all.'
To his right was the priest in sacerciotal
robes, with uplifted hands. uttering the
words Il pray for all''. To the left the
soldier, dressed in prescribed regmentas,
sword in hand standing firmly by the cannon,
and exclaimng IL fight for all'.
Underneath, and TO the right of this trio,
was lawyer. holding i'll his right hand
code, and with the left hand uplifted in a
powerful aftort to impress upon the jury the
innocence of his client, while below him
were the words II plead for ALI. To the
left of the trio Il doctor with pill box and
lancet, and from his lips were escaping the
words Il cure ALL.
Beneath all these was a modern Ajax. the
farmer, with his hand on the pillow and with
his face uplifted. contemplating the heavy
load he called upon to carry, loudly
calculating II feed and clothe them all''.
Yes, my friends, he who holds the pillow
feeds and clothes the world, oils the wheels
of commerce and propels the machinery of
manufacturers.
In earlier historical periods agriculture was
among the most degraded of the arts, as
at.ested by the words villain, clown, boor
and heather, the Latin, Danish, Dutch,
and English of farmer, cpithets to-day
of the highest aPprobrium. Nearly all words
expressive of refinement and culture are
borrowed from the city inhabitants.
Polite. urbane, civil, yea. even civilization,
and our word citizen, from the Latin
and Greek words which mean city. In
the past therefore, all refinement and cul-
ture was confined to the city, and ignorance,
superstition and infdeli,y to the country.
Later on the farmer regarded
civilized individual, but his occupation
regarded as simple art--rather series of
motions put into practical operation at the
right time of the moon. Schools of instruc
ton were provided for every other profess
sion save farming. Doctors and Dragons,
barristers and ministers were required to-
graduate in special schools of instruction ere
they could practice thei" profession; but
he who clears forests, builds cities, furnishes
the raw materials for factories and com
merce. yea, he who feeds and clothes the
world. needs special instruction to aid
century declared agriculture to be the pro
foundest of sciences. \ wonderful revolution
in the march of progress, exploding old
theories and establishing new ones, &C
complishcd when Baron Won lebig launched
his new agriculture on the tide of time. With
the keen eye of science men began to look
down into the soil To- the transformations
produced by air, water and sunshine. They
followed the little rootlets into their subter-
ranean home and watched their frolics
after water and their struggle for food
Other observers noted tbs eteSt Of light,