13 



never been taught to exercise his reasoning powers, 

 and has barely knowledge enough to unite a broken 

 thread, or load a gravel cart. 



Intellect and intelligence are inventive. They de- 

 vise new modes and suggest new applications of known 

 principles. They turn to use the knowledge that ex- 

 ists in the world, — the accumulation of past centuries 

 of labor and thought. They profit by recorded failure 

 and success, — for both are alike instructive. They do 

 not repeat blunders. They do not attempt what care- 

 fully conducted experiment has demonstrated to be 

 impracticable. They welcome each new discovery, 

 and avail themselves of its aid. Ignorance always 

 labors at disadvantage from not knowing what others 

 have attempted, with or without a happy result, and 

 from not exercising the reasoning and reflective pow- 

 ers. It is thus subjected to profitless labors, from 

 which intellio;ence and thous-ht are saved. What won- 

 ders has labor-saving machinery alone accomplished 

 for the benefit and elevation of man, the alleviation of 

 his sufferings, and augmentation of his comforts in 

 modern days ! Intelligence avails itself of its use, 

 when practicable, and finds its reward. Ignorance 

 plods in the old paths, and is left behind in the race. 

 It cannot compete successfully with intelligence. That 

 this is so in manufacturing, commercial, and mechani- 

 cal occupations every one knows. There are excep- 

 tions, but this is the law. Is not the same true in 

 agriculture ? As with success in war in modern times, 

 knowledge and skill have more to do than mere mus- 

 cular power, so it is — is it not ? — with the art exer- 

 cised by the peaceful farmer, as well as with those 

 exercised by the " lords of the spindle and the loom," 

 the artisan and the mechanic. Will intelligence here 

 nut lielp a man ? Will it save him from no vain 



