372 
Wisconsin - State Agricultural Society. 
HIGHER EDUCATION ON THE PROGRESS OF A STATE, 
OR THE PEOPLE AND THEIR UNIVERSITY. 
BY PROF. J. W. HOYT, MADISON. 
The professor prefaced his remarks by saying that he thought 
two apologies were due; one from Secretary Field for dragging him 
out in a poor condition of l^alth, and when it had not been possi¬ 
ble for him to make suitable preparation, and one from himself, for 
attempting to address such an audience under such circumstances, 
though the subject was one to enlist the best efforts of every intel¬ 
ligent citizen and patriot, and one in which he was greatly inter¬ 
ested. 
He began by saying he was glad the early prejudice against 
u book-larnin,” which he found among farmers in the State when 
he came into it twenty years ago, was passing away. Now, the far¬ 
mers of the State were among its most intelligent citizens, having 
an appreciation of science and its benefits to their calling and look 
to it for help. He endorsed the remarks of Professor Chamberlin 
as to what science could and should do for Wisconsin farming, and 
much more could be said in the same direction. 
We were an educational people, greatly interested in schools, and 
the nation and States were taking such action that we were in a 
very fair way to become a highly educated people, in the highest 
sense. We were very earnest and active in promoting common 
school education, none more so, and Congress was now considering 
whether it should not devote the proceeds of all the unsold public 
land to educational purposes. The recent wars in Europe, in which 
Prussia has gained such victories showed the advantage of having- 
educated soldiers u bayonets that think,” and were stimulating Aus¬ 
tria and France to efforts to secure better education of their people. 
There was increasing interest in education in this country, and 
indications were, that soon in every State there would be establish¬ 
ed schools of every grade for the people, at the public expense. 
