116 NATURAL HISTORY 



low estimate of Agriculture is undoubtedly due to 

 this fact, that less thought and study have thus far 

 been needed in this than in most other pursuits. 

 The prospect of making money will alone induce 

 many to engage in certain pursuits for a time. But 

 look over the pursuits which men engage in for life, 

 and you will find, as a general rule, that the thought 

 required to carry on a pursuit is the measure of its 

 dignity, and the index of the class of persons who 

 will engage in it. Men of learning and thought 

 and refinement, can never be induced to engage in 

 any work that can as well be carried on by men 

 "who never had a dozen thoughts in all their lives." 

 If a railroad is to be built, the engineers will labor 

 hard to make the surveys and measure the grade, 

 because that requires thought; but they will not 

 shovel sand for the same price, because that can be 

 done as well by the unlettered Irishman. 



All labor becomes honorable and dignified just 

 in proportion to the intellect, the thought, and study 

 required to carry it on. These render base things 

 noble. Ci The chemist's and geologist's soiled hands 

 are signs of no base work ; the coarsest work of the 



