34 



the spacious and convenient edifice now given up to the 

 uses of your enterprise, with similar gatherings enlivening 

 other counties and states in this part of the year, are proofs 

 that this process of quickening has already begun, and 

 goes on. But then I remember, as well, how large a 

 numerical majority of those who are called farmers of 

 Norfolk fail altogether to represent themselves at the 

 Fair ; how many others are present, not as competitors iii 

 the arena, but only as gazers at a brilliant but distant and 

 uninstructive pageant ; and how inconsiderable, if I may 

 say so, is the number that carry away such vital impulses, 

 or such solid ideas, as will tell on the direct management 

 of their o^\ti acres, and their next year's seed, and crops, 

 and stock. This living and ardent interest which turns 

 every item in the spectacle, every colt and cow, pig and 

 parsnip, heifer and hen, rug and rareripe, to a stimulating 

 value, and nerves a more resolute purpose to make the 

 most of each man's, or woman's, personal chance, — this 

 is the sort of ambition that pushes your pursuit forward, 

 converting it from a servile drudgery to one of the elegant 

 arts, and winning for it heights of excellence and honor. 

 I am afraid it must be acknowledged that intellectual 

 apathy has been the drowsy curse that has so long som- 

 nambulized agriculture ; and if it will serve to soften the 

 accusation from an outside party, I will put the pulpit in 

 with the plough ; though who knows but if there were 

 less dull planting, the wholesome contagion would run up 

 the pulpit stairs, and there would be less dull preaching "? 

 Or, if it seems ungracious to press this charge just "svhen 

 the sleepers are waking up, I remind you, on the other 

 hand, that these occasional signs of animation only cast 

 the adjacent obstinacy into a more palpable disgrace. It 

 is not that cheering signals of invigorated intelligence arc 

 not stirring the air ; but that these better notions are not 

 made to work their wav out, and settle down on the actual 



