1847.] Duty of Educated Men. 137 



DUTY OF EDUCATED MEN. 



BY AGRICOLA. 



In the present advancing age of improvement, and especially 

 in the art and science of Farming, it cannot be denied that men 

 of education, and high literary and scientific attainments are un- 

 der a paramount obligation to throw in the aid of their wisdom and 

 skill to aid the onward march. All men have a duty to perform 

 in this respect, inasmuch as they all depend upon the arts for 

 those things, which, from being originally luxuries, have now be- 

 come the necessaries of life. But the business of agriculture has 

 especial claims upon the man of science and education. It is now 

 rapidly rising, and striving to take its proper place in the world 

 as the foundation and chief of all arts. For ages regarded as lit- 

 tle better than bondmen or serfs, the tillers of the soil, who fed 

 and clothed the whole human race, have been kept down and 

 compelled to take an inferior place in society. This can be so 

 no longer. The chains are broken, and the dignity of the calling is 

 fully appreciated and acknowledged. Much however yet remains 

 to be done tor this class of men, and we wish at this time to call 

 the attention of two of the learned professions in particular, to the 

 obligations they lie under, and the immense facilities they enjoy 

 of doing more than any other men, for the true advancement of 

 the farmer. We refer to clergymen and physicians. 



There is no corner nor hamlet in the more densely settled por- 

 tions of this broad land, where both these professions are not re- 

 presented. Men cannot get along without a doctor, and in a 

 Christian land without a minister. So we find them throughout 

 the country. They are supported by the farmers, and if they make 

 money, they get it from the faimers. They may think they make 

 a full return in the cure of the bodies and souls of those among 

 whom they live, but this is not true. They owe, as men living 

 among men, those obligations which spring up in society, and es- 

 pecially to aid all around them in making progress in every thing 

 which is for their profit or advantage. No man fills up his measure 

 of duty till he has done all this. 



We said these })rofessions have peculiar facilities for advancing 

 the interests of the farmer. This is seen as follows. 



From their education they stand, ordinarily, somewhat above 

 all among whom they live. They are, and should be expected to 

 know more, and of that kind of knowledge which is of use in di- 

 recting onwards the arts of life. Of such kind is the knowledge 

 of the sciences. This forms a prominent part of the education of 

 the minister and physician. The latter is not fully prepared for 

 the practice of his profession if he have not a considerable ac- 



