The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-27
FARMERS SHOULD BE EDUCATED.

61bIO VI bn4S d1G4C40 rs OuO Ol bn0 OAu-
est in The Progressive Farmer plat
form. We realize that we often urge
it's Importance upon our readers, bct
this is in accord with the old doctrine
of slime upon line, precept upon pre-
cept." Upon the same subject, DR..
j. B. Killebrew contributes to a re-
cent number of the Southern Farm
Magazine the following thoughtful
article:
The soil is the great we'll spring
whence flow in exuberant diversity
the blessings of the human race In
proportion to it's successful cultiva
ton and bounteous yield is the ag-
gregate happiness of mankind adj
vanced. Agriculture underlies and
upholds all professions, all enter
prises, all development and all sue
cesses. In peace and in wal it is the
arbiter of destiny and Yields a scep-
ter as universal as it is potent. Ma
tions, kings, potentates and individ,
uals bow in submission alike to it's
influences. It is above all, over all
and sustains all. It was the first vo-
cation to which man was called by
the voice of the Omnifc God, and
will be the last, as it is the highest
and noblest. This being the case,
how eminently essential is it that
farmers and farmers sons should be
educated to a standard of elevation
commensurate with the dignity and
exalted worth with which their high
calling is invested.
The great and the good, the wise
and the powerful, have in all ages
honored agriculture as ranking fore
most among the occupations of men.
The crown of Ceres fits we'll the
farmers brow, nor did Persian prince
ever wear a more gllttering coronal
than this. God himself, who from
chaos shaped the fructifying uni
verse, was a worker, and man, created
in His own image, while carrying
out the injunction to earn his bread
in the sweat of his brow, can elevate,
dignity and ennoble labor by educat-
ing himself up to his work.
Tilling the soil and feeding the
focks when the stars we're made to
dance in the azure of heaven formed
mans vocation and his happiness.
Corn fields grew over the plains of
the Midianites, and the Giant of
Gath fed on barley, Noah planted
vineyards and patriarchs herded
fOcks in the wales of Hebron, while
Israel ate from the granaries of the
Pharaohs. Ruth went cleaning in
the harvest time, and the Savior of
man walked through the corr fields
and plucked the ears. Smoothed-
versed Virgil dropped the heroic and
gave in Roman praise the famed
BucOlios. Thrice was C~incinnatus
called from the field to save his coun-
try, and as often returned to his vO-
cation. Great examples in history
and in song are not wanting TO cheer
the farmer on to raise himself to the
highest educational elevation. From
the farm and from being the sur
veyor of Fairfax and of the then
wilds of Venango Washington was
called to the loftiest destiny ever
opened to the grasp and o~omprehen
sion of human usefulness and human
ambition. Jefferson with the same
hand that drew the Declaration
showed the spade and used the prun-
ing hook around Monticello. Cal
houn among his broad acres made
historic the farm lands of the Able
vile district, South Carolina. The
old war-horse of the Hermitage sleeps
amid the cedars and magnolias Of
the farm he supervised. Webster,
who went down at Marshfeld a fos-
stlized mastOdOn to fame, who shook
Senntes and nations and made despots
quail and culver, was a farmer, as
was his father, Ebenezer, before him
The beautifully tanned acres, with
their primeval trees and waving
blue grass fields, at Ashland are
classic from the name of Clay, who
also was d farmer. These were edu
Gated, self educated, farmers, all of
thea. They brought the gigantic
and uncomfortable powers Of Guilt
waited mind TO act upon and subdue
the yielding and plastic elements of
uncultivated nature, which gave
them wide SCOPE, a. she always will,