STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 41 



they soon lose their bright, healthy look, and ere long droop and die. 

 If they had stayed on the farm and had been allowed some conve- 

 nient place for a flower garden and a little help now and then to 

 take care of it; if books, papers and music had been provided in the 

 house, and some chance given now and then for a trip to see some- 

 thing of the world, in fact if everything had not been work and 

 striving for the almighty dollar, many would have stayed in their 

 country homes and grown up to be useful men and women instead 

 of going to the crowded city, where so many go down in moral and 

 financial ruin. 



I quote the following extract from an address by one of Illinois 

 proDiinent horticulturists, bearing on this subject: 



"If you travel over New England, or the Middle States, or the 

 broad plains of the West to-day, and count the thousands of man- 

 sions, villas and cottages, in suburbs, in towns and on farms, which 

 are embowered in shade and sheltered from winds, with bright lawns 

 and blooming flower beds around them; if you will consider the 

 sheltering roadside maples, the shaded school house grounds, the 

 hundreds of handsome parks; and how everywhere the love of beauty 

 in the soul of man and woman is in full blossom in tree and plant, in 

 lawn architecture, you will be certain that the esthetic side of our 

 horticultural education has been advancing at a wonderful rate." 



Think j^ou not that the young people who are brought up among 

 such surroundings will grow into a better type of manhood and 

 womanhood than where these conditions do not exist ? If so what 

 a grand work is laid at the door of this society, not only to beautify 

 and adorn your homes but to lead the children and young people of 

 Illinois up to a higher and nobler life. 



" Bring flowers, fresh flowers for the bride to wear ! 

 They were born to blush in her shining hair. 

 She is leaving the home of her childhood's mirth, 

 She hath bid farewell to her father's hearth. 

 Her place is now by another's side- 

 Bring flowers for the locks of the fair young bride ! 



" Bring flowers, pale flowers, o'er the bier to shed, 

 A crown for the brow of the early dead I 

 For this through its leaves hath the white rose burst. 

 For this in the woods was the violet nursed ! 

 Though they smile in vain for what once was ours. 

 They are love's last gift, — bring ye flowers, pale flowers I 



" Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer. 

 They are nature's offering, their place is there ! • 



They speak of hope to the fainting heart. 

 With a voice of promise they come and part. 

 They sleep in dust through the wintery hours, 

 They break forth in glory— bring flowers, bright flowers ! " 



