should not expect agriculture to remain
stationary ; we must look for more than
the addition of new forms of machinery;
we must expect changes to take place
from reasons based on chemical analysis.
Many have been the opportunities for
such development through the colleges
organized to teach agriculture as one
of the courses of study, together with
the experiment stations which have usu
ally been connected with such colleges.
At present experiment stations are be
ing organized and built all over the
country. The demand for educated ag
ricultural men to fill the positions re
quired by these stations is greater than
the supply. To-day the graduate in an
agricultural course has as good prospects
for success professionally as has any
other graduate. It is for him with his
knowledge of chemistry, botany, zoology,
mathematics and the many other useful
studies which he has completed, to point
out and have applied those advantages
which are at present unknown to the
great masses of our farmers.
WANT DEVELOPS STRENGTH.
Want is something that falls upon each and
every person in this world ; it falls upon the rich,
upon the poor, and upon the intermediate class.
It is true, the wants of the wealthy are of a dif
ferent nature from those of the poorer class,
but they have wants—many wants. Persons born
of humble parentage are denied many privileges
which the rich enjoy; the poor amuse themselves
with pleasures of which the rich never dream.
Considering that every one,
_sooner or later, in
THE FREE LANCE.
one way or another, experiences want, still the
greater part of mankind believe want develops
strength. - We are all born into this world weak.
We are all selfish, and if the Creator had created
us with all things at our command, instead of be
ing an industrious people, we should be idolent,
lazy and degraded. How it is that few persons
knowing their resources, each knowing that
his or her future usefulness depends upon himself
or herself, strive early in life to obtain what
they at least believe to be their calling I But
many a man who is endowed by nature with more
thn ordinary genius goes down to his grave un
known to fame ; if, on the other hand, his natur
al gifts had been fully developed his name would
rank with the names of Caesar, Macaulay, and
Lincoln. Indeed our histories would be full of
names now unknown.
Want develops physical powers. If all were
born physically developed we should need no
exercise ; childish sports would be useless, sport
ing equipments unsalable, and the source of much
pleasure would be a barren page in our life, Now,
bodily exercise is needful for the maintenance of
our lives; our strength increases by it, and when
reverses come we are enabled to bear them with
more courage. Want develops the intellectual
power. Education is a necessity in all the works
of life. By education, I mean not only a knowl
edge of books, but an understanding of the duties
of the business which you follow. At first you
do not understand any part of your pursuit ; the
rudiments are the first requisites; then you learn
a little every day, till at last you are an experienc
ed man in your chosen- occupation. Necessity is
considered by all as the mother of invention.
Look at Edison, Fulton, and Whitney ! There
is no better illustration than the cotton gin.
Whitney was by nature a genius, but he did not
stop with nature's gift; he worked—graduated at
Yale. Being shown the necessity of separating
the cotton from the seed he started out to contrive
a machine with which to do it. The world knows
the result, Why was America discovered? Why