40 TEANSACTIONS. 



But any one, who has an acquaintance with both classes, and feels 

 equally at home in either, has marked a diflerence. There is a much 

 better acquaintance with men and books, in the latter, than in the 

 former. The country has been drained of its most enterprising and 

 intelligent population, to fill up the city. 



As sure as we send our sons to the academy, and give them a 

 taste of science, or of the classics,, they arfe oif to college, or away to 

 the city. No sooner are our fair daughters returned frorn the semi- 

 nary, than the young doctor, lawyer, or merchant, from the city, 

 drops in, and the daughters drop out — of our society. The good 

 pastor is called to give his blessing, and his farewell, to the most 

 gifted and intelligent portion of his flock, every year. These new 

 alliances with the city give it additional attractions over the country, 

 and make the tide, which sets thither, continually stronger. Not 

 every parish can endure this continued drain upon its vitality and 

 intelligence, without feeling the loss. Every one 'must see, that a 

 city population, thus formed, has a great advantage over that of the 

 country, which parts with its most cultivated, and only keeps those 

 who lack the enterprise to get away. 



Now, the influences, that are bearing upon the respective classes, 

 are calculated to widen the difference in intellectual culture. The 

 regular morning paper, with its intelligence from all parts of the 

 world ; the evening lecture from the most accomjDlished scholars in 

 the land ; the close competition in business ; the strife for profes- 

 sional success, which are' the constant mental stimulus of the citizen, 

 are altogether unknown to the rustic, who has but his weekly j^aper, 

 or, what is very common in our farm-houses, no paper at all. 



When science is recognized as an indispensable ally to good hus- 

 bandry, the very business of the farmer will become a powerful stim- 

 ulus to mental culture. He will no longer look upon his labor as 

 purely mechanical, but he will be continually studying the philosophy 

 of large crops, by the most economical methods. An acquaintance 

 with many of the natural sciences will be found essential to the most 

 profitable husbandry ; and Avhen it is once seen and felt, that the 

 farmer, who best knows how to till the soil, succeeds the best, and 

 makes the most m.oney, all will be anxious to know how, and no 

 ordinary obstacle will prevent them from learning. Farmers' sons 

 will have a better education, to begin their business with, and the 

 prosecution of their business will enrich their minds with knowledge, 

 as it does their acres with the elements of fertility. They will study 



