178 STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Under the fostering caro of the State all the manly and the christian virtues 

 flourish, and are nourished into the bc'st of results for the individual character, 

 and for herself. The love of country beirets devotion to her best and highest 

 interests, and love and zeal in her service, and the gracious results extend 

 througii the whole mass of society to its lowest integral elements. If aoj 

 people under tlie broad vault of heaven have laid upon them the best of reasons 

 for habitual gratitude for blessings of country, surely we are that people. 

 Protected as we are in all tiie rights and privileges for the highest and best 

 development in all the noble virtues of our race, it surely becomes us to give 

 our best aspirations and efforts to the country that has such claims upon us. 



All these and many others that might bo particularized, are powerful 

 influences in the formation of character, but the work of Pomona upon us is 

 in some respects distinct from them all. Helped by these she is not sup- 

 planted ; she is working up a character that neither family or church or 

 State have it in their power to develop. She finds her material in actual 

 contact, and builds us up in real service. Her pupils are brought in contact 

 with nature and stubborn facts, and arc made to feel their weakness and utter 

 helplessness without her aid. She acts upon us by a sort of reflex action, and 

 the intensity and devotion of our work for her is the exact measure of her 

 ennobling influences upon us. Her services are paid upon us by the richest 

 and most satisfying returns, and the more we do for her the greater and more 

 blessed are the returns. Tlie more we do for her the more we are enabled to 

 do, and the more we want to do, and thus our character is firmly established 

 by actual service. Character is literally the distinguishing marks of personality 

 that separate men and indicate the internal principles of their actions, and is 

 as variable as are their mental compositions. It is that by which we are indi- 

 vidually "known and read of all men." When a man is firmly settled in his 

 princii)les of action, and is indicated by his daily life among his fellows, he is 

 said to possess " real character" in contrast to "estimated character," which 

 is simply character in its transition state, and unattained. Character may be 

 of all degrees of excellence, according to the mental calibre and principles 

 from which it springs, from the lowest to the highest developments. It is 

 something that can be cultivated; something that can be attained; and, 

 therefore, we are each and all of us responsible for our character. A noble 

 character is permanent wealth, and a blessing to our country and race. 

 Although we, as a people, do not recognize an aristocratic nobility as a stand- 

 ing institution of this country, yet we do recognize and properly value nobility 

 of character, and we are most happy to know that it is a product that is 

 within the possible of development in the happy homes of many of our people. 

 This kind of character is very acceptable, and always necessary for the best 

 results in society or in business. A man may bo gifted with the finest intel- 

 lectual abilities from his birth, and be possessed of many fine personal 

 attractions, accompanied by a large and ample inherited fortune to gratify 

 his utmost ambitions, and may be the heir of a titled peer, but without a 



WELL FOUMED CHARACTER 



They will all in the end slip from under him, as a stone from under the wall, 

 and leave him but as a tottering fence, and a shattered piece of ruined human- 

 ity. Fruit growers of our country ! I appeal to you, when did you ever know 

 one of your number who, being intelligently devoted to his business, was 

 shipwrecked by it either in character or in fortunes? Have not the very 



