62 HAMPSHIRE, HAMPDEN AND 



merely, we are brought to see our own ignorance of the best 

 modes of accomplishing this object ; and thus we are led into 

 new fields of thought and invention, — a process alike improving 

 to the intellect and heart. Thus virtue in one sense may be 

 called the offspring of physical labor, and that statement seems 

 not to be overwrought, which makes the virtues of New Eng- 

 land society to spring from the hard labor requisite to supply 

 the physical wants of her inhabitants. The idea that this con- 

 nection exists between free voluntary labor and virtue, is so 

 generally received among intelligent men, that, to decide upon 

 the social and moral condition of families in a free government 

 like our own, they simply wish to know whether such families 

 are industrious. 



But of what practical utility is ornamental work, like much 

 of that exhibited at our fairs, when plain articles will answer 

 just as well? This question is often asked by practical men 

 who visit the annual fairs. We reply, that the contemplation 

 of beautiful objects is a source of moral improvement. Why is 

 the physical universe full of beautiful objects, unless there was 

 some valuable end to be answered? We could conceive of it 

 existing without one lineament of beauty, and still meeting the 

 wants of our physical natures. But no ; all nature must have 

 a gorgeous dress, from the lily of the valley to the rainbow 

 which arches the heavens, that there may be suitable objects 

 for the improvement of our moral natures. All the associations, 

 too, connected with the beauties of nature, tend to elevate and 

 purify the mind. And as is the character of the conceptions, so 

 is their embodiment in external forms. Thus the products of 

 virtuous industry are always in a greater or less degree beau- 

 tiful. The external act so accords with the state of the moral 

 feelings, that, when the former is in good taste, we infer the 

 latter are correct. The traveller in the country, without know- 

 ing the inmates of the dwelling he is passing, sees a virtuous 

 and happy family in the neat picket fence of the door-yard, the 

 tasteful shrubbery, and the trellised woodbine, which arches the 

 front door. But on the other hand, the deeds of vicious persons 

 are uncouth, deformed, out of all taste. And if they are ever 

 tidy in dress, or ever live in beautiful edifices, surrounded with 



