Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1859 — THE NEW SOCIETY. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW SOCIETY.

Progressive and energetic farmers of our county have lately been engaged in a commendable work—-the organization of a new’ society. We hail it as an omen, propitious and augering better times and a better spirit. In all the departments of human industry there is nothing more interesting, to one who Watches the progress of the race, than the increasing importance of agricultural matters."' And of all the schemes for the advancement of husbandry, no one is attended with more practical benefits than the County Society. It is the most important, for it is the foundation of others. It is the most conducive to frugality, for it reaches every member of the family. Itis the decimal dot in bucolic currency. In every day finance the adage, “take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,” is considered sound philosophy. The old saw, however, holds its edge on this. Take care of the County societies ar.d the others will take care of themselves. The former receives little attention among men, and we do not expect the latter will be any better dealt with. But we appeal to the farmers of the county. We couiure you by the regard for the profession which you follow. By your interest in the gold which lies heaviest on your heart; by your regard for the welfare ofyour children; by your love for comfortable homes; by your zeal in sturdy sports; buyout' love of country, and by your pride ofState, that you come up like men to the work and put your broad shoulders to the wheel. The late plan is founded on an excellent basis, but without your aid it amounts to nothing. With your co-operation the association can be made the most perfect and beneficial of any in the State—you can, make it the means of much pleasure and profit. Agriculture is mainly a new' subject for consideration a broad field is opened to the man of thought and genius. Through the medium now offered, you can advance the interests of the field ten fold, and at yonr death leave a monument of your virtues to your children and to your children’s children. Let it embrace the two grand objects of instruction and let it include every legitimate thing which can give zest to the occasion; let it be a time of rejoicing and festivity; let it be enrolled in the calendar as a day to- be remembered; let its advent be as fuel to the elastic hopes of the boy, and let the old man, iipon its departure, take one more ironrThe w'iming’years; let the household make ready for its coming, and family conjoin with family to receive it; let its interest be commensurate with its importance, and no festivity of ancient or modern times, all things considered, can compare with the county agricultural society. A classic writer declares, that one of the pleasantest sights granted by the gods to man, is to look down from an eminence upon the contests of the Campus Martius and the Olympic plains. Surely, the spectacle of the athletes—broad-shouldered,’ deepchested, brawny, well-formed and welltrained Hellenes—contending for the prize; chariots jostling with chariots, their fretted ornaments of gold flashing in the sunlight, their chargers crazy with excitement and dashing madly from their drivers; the charioteers shouting and bickering one with another; the congregated thousands—the representatives of nations—looking on with breathless interest; the victors borne aloft on canopied seats upon the shoulders of men; the crowds swaying to and fro; cheers rising upon cheers, and nations vieing with nations for the citizenship of the conqueror; surely all this were enough to stir the blood of the poet. But a finer sight by far—the comeliest view in all the Western World is a body of plain farmers gathered together of a summer’s day, to consult in regard to their occupatien and look in one another’s face; the bountiful products of their lands spread out for inspection; their blood-cattle as sleek and graceful as a high-born maid; their steeds well formed, impatient and mettlesome —noble sheep, goodly swine, stalwart, intelligent men, and handsome and accomplished women. We are somewhet suspicious that this latter picture is a little out of place, but it is one which we would like to see realized; and we hope the farmers of this county will come up and give it a decent frame to hang in. R.