S8 



history, of old chilizations, especially those of the Egyptian 

 and Chinese, bring to light many cnstoms supposed to be 

 modern. But though the great empires of the past, encourag- 

 ed agriculture by festivities and processions, we read of no 

 shows or fairs at all comparable to those now permeating our 

 land, and certainly no process next to attendance in youth at 

 agricultural schools and colleges could do so much for the ris- 

 ing generation of farmers. I am glad to learn that you as a 

 society so fully appreciate the necessity of education for oiu- 

 young men in rural life as to support two scholarships 

 in tlie agricultural college at Amherst. It is too late in 

 the day to adduce any new arguments in fa^or of that 

 institution. Its merits are being brought to the notice of 

 the farmers throughout the land, and when they fvdly un- 

 derstand its meaning and ol>jects, they will imite as one man 

 in its support. I trust also that the condition of the young 

 women in agricultural and horticultiu'al piu'suits is not to be 

 overlooked. A l)oy at school in your neighl)oring town of 

 Danvers, being asked >\'liy he ncAcr \\-ould Aote for women for 

 office M'hen he got to be a man, replied, "because they were 

 afraid of caterpillars/' I cannot Aouch for the correctness of 

 this assertion, but we know they are too deficient in the knoAvl- 

 eda'C of out door thiniis which woidd not onlv afford them 

 much })leasure, ))ut giAC them opportunities of assisting their 

 parents and husbands in the vocations they pursue. ^Nlost of 

 the virgins, and their name is legion, who adorn our State, 

 seeking whom they may devour in the way of Itashands, are 

 probably better instructed than tlie daughter of the contra- 

 band, who, being re(piestt>(l to indicate what kin<l of accom- 

 plishments she was desirous of lining her hopeful daughter 

 pursue, said, '' I)e gal nmss be lamed de piano and painting 

 any how ; and mel)be arter a while, readin and Avritin I " Our 

 ■ o-als ' would be a great deal hap})ier and much more useful if 

 in addition to these accomplishments they could in the absence 

 of parent or brother or husband — Avhen obtained — give intcl- 



