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ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



body, and nothing but absolute truth, truth in nature and truth in life, can survive the 

 ordeal. Our little Horticultural Society is in the current, and however humble it may 

 be it has a right to speak and make itself heard, and it will be heard if it says anything 

 worthy of notice and remembrance. 



But it is not alone the practical, or the relatively practical, that occupies our atten- 

 tion; the beautiful interests us as well. Landscape gardening has always been one of 

 the chief topics of consideration here. We seek to unite the useful with the beautiful; 

 the beautiful in form, in color and in position. Life has its joys as well as its labor 

 and toil. A leading object with this Society has always been art culture, and I am sure 

 I know not where to fix a limit to that kind of culture. We may here consider, if not 

 enjoy, the beautiful in all its forms — statuary, painting, landscape gardening, architect- 

 ure and scenery; and why may we not add music as a study, and an enjoyment, and 

 have practical illustrations of its soul-inspiring influence. Instrumental and vocal music 

 could not be out of place here ; care being taken to give to each object or subject only 

 its proper share of attention; and thus our meetings would become truly "a feast of 

 reason and flow of soul." 



We acquire knowledge through the senses, mainly through the eye and ear. It is 

 best, of course, to get that knowledge at first hands, to see with our own eyes and hear 

 with our own ears. But, unfortunately for many of us, much of our information can 

 only be had at second hand. We cannot, in the body, travel through Europe and drink 

 in the beauties and grandeurs that await one there, but must be content to see them 

 through other eyes. True, the loss is accompanied by some gain. We can travel, in 

 imagination, with the more fortunate, and see with the mental eye and hear with ihe 

 mental ear the glorious sights and sounds, without the expense and annoyances that 

 always attend travels in the body. 



Europe, from the great age of its civilization and its vast accumulations of wealth, 

 must be full of works of art, and art of every kind and character. Who has not longed, 

 "as the hart panteth for the water brooks," to travel in Europe and behold its wonders 

 and grandeurs and beauties. Some persons may look upon a beautiful landscape or 

 painting, but, from a want of sympathy, or ignorance, or stupidity, will see nothing to 

 admire; while others, whrse souls, like the strings of a harp vibrating responsive to 

 harmonious sounds, will take in at a glance all the beauties and glories before them. 

 Two of our most gifted and cultured members have recently made a tour of Europe. 

 They went there to see and enjoy; and I am sure if any one could present to our mental 

 vision the beauties of that fairy land, and enable us to realize the enchanting music 

 there heard, it can be done, and will be done, by our learned friends. Prof, and Mrs. 

 J. V. N. Standish, both of whom I now have the honor to invite to address us. 



Prof. Standish prefatorily stated his inability to do even partial jus- 

 tice to the grand scenery of Europe in a dozen lectures, much less in a 

 single evening. He had been asked to compare the things seen in Europe 

 with those in America; our mountains with the Alps; the churches here 

 with the cathedrals of the continent; the parks and lawns of the old 

 countries with those of the new. Such a comparison, especially of the 

 latter, were it possible to be made, would be unjust. The European 

 countries have spent ages in improving and embellishing their surround- 

 ings, and everything there has a finished appearance. We, on the other 

 hand, are young, and have just begun what it has taken Europe centuries 

 to complete. 



" Our lawns and parks do not compare with those of Europe. Their 

 poorest generally surpass our best. Particular attention is paid to the 

 parks in the old countries. All varieties of grasses are to be found there, 

 as well as nearly all desirable kinds of trees and shrubbery. These are 

 carefully watched and cultivated. 



