308 • STATE BOAED OF AGEICULTUEE. 



does. Of the Scotchman as a slow-motioned being, with nothing more remark- 

 able than a large development of cantion and Calvinism. Of the Irishman as 

 skilled only in the use of the shovel and the shillalah. Of the Frenchman 

 as one who lias more manners than brains ; and of the German as living 

 in a realm of mysticism, metaphysics, and tobacco smoke. How many of ns 

 do not knoAV, or at least do not reflect^ that these nations far outstrip us in 

 many of the mechanical arts, and are all the while finding a market hero for 

 many products of their industry because we cannot manufacture them ourselves, 

 — the shawls, and laces, and broadcloths, and silks, and hundreds of other arti- 

 cles that we wear and use, but cannot make ; and if we go to Philadelphia, as 

 we walk along the compartments occupied by these nations, we shall open our 

 eyes in wonder and admiration at the taste and skill manifested in many of the 

 articles of use and adornment which they shall exhibit there ; and I think we 

 shall conclude that if we are the greatest, and smartest, and l)est looking people 

 in the world, there are some others that we cannot afford to laugh at. Soberly, 

 we shall discover that we knew comparatively nothing of the productive capaci- 

 ties or the industrial progress of other countries, and we shall be astonished at 

 the perfection and finish of articles wrought by nations that we esteemed almost 

 barbarians, and ever after we shall have a truer, wiser estimate both of ourselves 

 and others. 



It must be well nigh impossible, we think, to contemplate such a vast collec- 

 tion of the articles produced by human industry and skill as shall be exhibited 

 at Philadelphia Avitliout realizing that we are thereby made not only wiser, but 

 better also. Kightly understood, there is a vein of true philosophy in the old 

 Scotch woman's prayer: "Lord, give us grace to think enough of ourselves." 

 As the invisible Clod is made known to us by the visible things which he has 

 created, so we are enabled to come to a truer, grander conception of the human 

 mind, through the varied and wonderful results which it accomplishes. By such 

 an exhibition of the myriads of modifications of the powers and action of mind, 

 we come to realize what a wonderful and glorious thing the human mind is. 

 And then tliink what an incentive is thus given to the more jjerfect cultivation 

 of its powers. For, wonderful as the mind is, its chief glory lies in its capa- 

 bilities of growth. How comparatively little man utilizes in a savage state. 

 The grand achievements of mind come through observation, and habits, and 

 processes of thought. When Ave look at apiece of machinery cunningly contrived, 

 elegantly finishecl, ^Derfect in its adaptation to some particular use ; or look upon 

 some article of beauty which the human mind first conceived, and then the 

 human hand fashioned, we seem to rise into a higher atmosphere. And when 

 such influences are brought to ]jear upon, and are made to work simultaneously 

 in the masses of tlie people throughout the world, who can estimate the benefi- 

 cial result? 



"We are made to feel also that a common end animates all the myriads of the 

 noble army of workers throughout the world. All are laborers in a common 

 field, and though occupied in widely different departments, all are obeying the 

 divine command, to have '^ Dominion over the earth, and subdue it," for as it 

 has been truly said, " When we get at the secrets of nature, and expound them ; 

 when Ave lay hold of tlie poAvers of nature, and employ them ; Avlien Ave take 

 possession of the riches of nature, and dispose of them ; when, in the temple of 

 this earth, we take our place as priests and as ministers, then industiy joerforms 

 its mighty Avork, and fulfills its high destiny." 



Passing from the indicidual, allow me to notice tlie benefits that may accrue 



