The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-15

stitutions OF higher learning which ac
counts. In large measure, for the hordea
Of middlefnen that play the producer
against the consumer, and the army OF
lawyers and other semi-professionals
that live off the people.
Industrial pursuits usually are as
sociated with considerable physical
labor. Education and physical labor
seem to be. the unnecessarily, antipod-
al. Education, therefore, seems 10
have d~egensrated too largely into a
preparation to escape the sweat that
comes Of toll; 1t would make a living
Off the other fellow; 1t would enable
one to prosper by his wits instead of
engaging in productive activities, for
a livelihood. A glance at the life his
tory OF the graduates of orthodox uni
yersities and colleges win confirm this
statement, as there are but few so edu-
Gated who r not engaged in non-pro-
ductive callings or in over-crowded
professions. Overcoming this tenden-
ey toward establishing an educated
aristocracy and restoring the dignity
of h industries. and making labor
Independent by making 1t skilful and
learned is engaging, more and more,
the earnest thought of patriotic men
and progressive educators. The mis-
takes of the past are being gradually
corrected.
Carver says truly that the fewer
there are in any nation who get their
living at the expense of others, and the
mbre there are who get their living
by productive and seryiceable prac-
tees, the better it is for that nation
and the more 1t will prosper.
The Morrill, Act Of 1862.
The agricultural colleges established
in the United States under the pro-
visions of the Morrill, act evolved what
What the classics are, to the tradition
al schools. science is to the new edu-
cation. Research and investigation
have supplanted traditional authority
and the laboratory is invoked to re-
veal the truths of nature instead of ac-
cepting the dogma of historic person
ages.
The industries of life are clothed
with new dignity and especially agri-
culture, SO long a mere round of soul
less drudgery, is quickened with the
inspiration that is breathed into 1t by
scientific discoveries. Mechanical in
ventions have lightened the burden of
toll and intelligent interest has taken
the place of established usage. More
over it is universally conceded that a
strong, vigorous, intelligent and virile
rural population is the mainstay and
bulwark of the state or province.
improve Nature.
As before remarked, science enables
man to direct and control, within linn
itations, the forces of nature. God
may impart to plant and animal
strength, but man desires quality and
proceeds to secure it. Nature makes
an apple-perchance a crabapple-
sour, acrid, and so bitter that insect
enemies are held in allegiance that
otherwise would destroy it's seeds.
For to reproduce it's kind and perpet-
uate it's specie is instinct in its very
nature. Engaged in tremendous COM
petition with other trees and plants
~ SOAAs 5hDAA6ASS Oil anu 4ASAStdlS o. III
better apple can nature produce, so
long as all the trees energy and vital
ity is required to sustain itsely against
it's competitors. But transplant the
tree into clean, rich soil, destroy its
enemies, give it undisputed access 10
all the elements-air, sunlight mois-
ture, and soil and the apple improves
in size and quality. Persist in it's
culture for several generations and, by
careful selection, the apple will be so
improved that it will scarcely bear any
resemblance to the original fruit.
Having now no enemies to struggle
against, but, instead a guiding hand to
reward, it yields its increased energy,
when so protected, to its benefactor-
all this, apparently as an act OF rec
iprocity. Thus nature makes a crab
apple scarcely edible to even a saw
ages palate; man creates from this
wild parent stock. the Baldwin, the
pippin, the Jonathan. the wealthy, and
hundreds of varieties besides. Nor
does he proceed blindly. He forecasts
results and creates apples of size and
color to meet his fancy.
The wild rosa rather comedy
fower-is, nevertheless, a pestiferous
weed. Its tenacity upon life is pro-
verbal. From its roots 1t ~perpetuates
itself and. though cut down and plow-
ed under year after year, it's family is
still numerous and undiscouraged.
On the other hand. the American
Beauty is q 1ower-superb in its
matchIess splendor. The texture Of its
petals defies imitation. It's fragrance
is like a dream.
The American Beauty exemplihes
mans power to direct the slow changes
that ultimately evolve the perfect
flower from the most humble parent
age. However, the a~ristocratic rose
the American Beauty-has lost its
power of endurance and ability to
readily p~erpetuate its kind. 1t has
now become a tender thing, beset with
fungus diseases. succumbing readily to
attacks by insects and rust. In the
Transformation from the wild to the
domesticated state, strength and en-
durance are lost in proDortion as quail