78 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



strong", and the rock promising an excellent marble for ornamental 

 building purposes — all lying unworked ; clay as good and as 

 abundant as at Brewer, Pittston or Westbrook ; plenty of sand, 

 and mountains of granite — yet, in the centre of this neighborhood 

 so remarkably rich in nature's enduring bounties, there is a grow- 

 ing village, dating" back half a century, where the buildings are 

 still being erected almost wholly of wood, the roofs covered with 

 cedar shingles. A wiser people than we are, would here build a 

 beautiful town that could not in one unfortunate hour be changed 

 into smoke and ashes. The rubbish from the slate, that may here 

 be wrought within two hundred rods from the cars, with this lime 

 and sand, would form a concrete for the walls of buildings, more 

 substantial than bricks — of solidity to resist any shock short of 

 the force of a Western tornado, or a St. Thomas earthquake. 

 But such is the force of habit, and the persistence of folly, that 

 we may yet see men go from this village to Alaska for a pine tree, 

 rather than use a better material for the same purpose, lying under 

 their feet. 



The enjoyment to be derived from living in the country, depends 

 in great measure upon two things — a tasteful house and a pleasant 

 garden. Many village places afford these in full measure. With 

 us, these conditions of enjoyment are within the reach of every 

 health}', industrious man. Neither imply the presence of wealth. 

 They are the results simply of good taste, with some cultivation, 

 acquired through books, society or observation. This cultivated 

 taste becomes a large available capital in the hands of a poor man, 

 when he comes to deal with the things of nature. They stand to 

 him as treasures, without which, elegance and luxury are nothing 

 but tinsel and a vulgar sham. You believe with me, that a fiirm- 

 er's home may possess some grace and beauty, and be somewhat 

 suggestive of high hopes as well as others. There is no good 

 reason why they and their families in particular, should yield their 

 lives to the discomforts of a primitive style of life, and the wear- 

 ing ijionotony of thoughtless toil. The possibilities of a noble life 

 arc here so easily attainable, that every country dweller by im- 

 proving his opportunities, may, beyond his money gains, increase 

 his knowledge and cultivate his appreciation of the beautiful in 

 art and nature. When he neglects his peculiar opportunities, the 

 sum total of tlie nation's intelligence and happiness falls iuuuense- 

 ly short of what it should be. 



In a country so diversified as this, there is ample range for the 



