PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL SOCIETY. 329 



follj, luxurious excesses, splendid dissipation and princely extrava- 

 gance ? 



While this evil may in part be attributed to an inherent tendency, 

 and radical perversity of the human heart, allow me to suggest, but 

 in no censorious spirit, that the blame in part also lies at the door 

 of farmers themselves. Farmers have not always, hitherto, brought 

 to their work such a spirit of intelligent inquiry as would inspire it 

 with interest, and raise it above- mere drudgery to the dignity of 

 an intellectual pursuit. The exercise of the mind and of the body 

 must go on conjointly, in order that the latter may be exhilarated 

 to a timely activity. The body without the spirit is dead; and any 

 service not vitalized with spirit and enthusiasm soon becomes monot- 

 onous and degenerates into a dull performance. We all know how 

 irksome a task any duty becomes, not entered into with interest and 

 alacrity. Your work has not usually presented those incitements to 

 intellectual activity, and furnished those mental stimulants necessary 

 to the enterprising and adventurous spirit, ever thirsting for knowl- 

 edge, seeking new experiences, anxious to repeat life in entertaining 

 and novel forms, and revolting against a treadmill service, an irk- 

 some round of physical drudgery. 



One great reason, no doubt, that we are all so discontented with 

 our lot is, that we have not duly exercised our powers, have not 

 filled up. the measure of our capacities, and have dwarfed our minds 

 to the scant measure of some routine service which becomes monoto- 

 nous, while the nobler faculties of our nature are never appealed to, 

 never aroused into activity, and never thrill with pleasurable emo- 

 tions. Consequently thousands dying of inanition, start off in mad 

 pursuit of they know not what, and rush precipitately into intem- 

 perate indulgences and reckless excesses. 



You have not entertained so high a regard for education as would 

 tend to make your pursuit more attractive; farm labor which should 

 inspire enthusiasm and stimulate enterprise, has been bereft of its 

 legitimate interest, been bald of novelty ; and many of intellect and 

 capacity, who have aspired to knowledge, have united their energies 

 and talents to other departments of labor. You have yourselves 

 virtually implied a disparagement of your calling, by almost inva- 

 riably delegating to professional men the authority to represent your 

 interests in legislative capacities, and also by educating your sons 



