UTILIZATION OF LABOR. 53 



UTILIZATION OF LABOE. 



From an Address before the Hampshire Agricultural Society. 



BY PAUL A. CHADBOURNE. 



Peace as well as war has its triumphs and its days of ova- 

 tion. In time of war there are days of review when the hosts 

 are marshalled, not for conflict, but to show what they have 

 done and what they are able to do. Then it is that the brave 

 leader glories in the empty sleeve ; and the flag, soiled and 

 scarred by the storm of war, is more honored than the richest 

 silken folds that have never cheered the soldier on the battle- 

 field. Every symbol of work accomplished is an earnest of 

 work that will yet be done. But now in the lull of arms, 

 peace marshals her forces and from time to time brings together 

 the products which she has to offer, instead of the mere pomp 

 and devastation of war. 



In such a review of her labors, in New England, if in no 

 other portion of the world, we may see what men enjoy under 

 a free government, and what varied sources of enjoyment may 

 be found for every citizen even on this hard soil where frost 

 and drought and rain have each in turn the mastery. 



It is a happy thing that toil may be suspended and that no 

 favored class, but the great community, may join together in 

 a grand review of the labors and triumphs of the year. This 

 is the object of agricultural fairs throughout our country. 

 They are* not simply agricultural fairs, though they bear this 

 name, but exhibitions of every form of honorable industry in 

 the section which they represent. The farmers come bringing 

 the finest of their herds and flocks, the housewife spreads the 

 rich products of the dairy, and the mechanic brings his wares. 

 Wood, and iron, and brass, and wool, and flax and cotton, are 

 shown in the thousand forms which civilization demands. The 

 artist brings the product of his pencil, and whole departments 

 of beauty proclaim that we have higher wants than food and 



