STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 135 



worked hard to produce these things, but in doing so they have cre- 

 ated notliing; they have only changed the form of things. Man's 

 labor, after all, is only a knocking at the door of the ti*casure house 

 of nature. Man works; God and nature give. As man ascends in 

 the scale of a true civilization, he also learns to give. ^ Barbarism is 

 robbery. True civilization is a form of generous beneficence. A.s we 

 advance we will become more generous. 



And you, gentlemen, will lead a long line of generous givers, who 

 will enter the new temple of agriculture to deposit the tokens of their 

 beneficence; and you will, in after years, be able to rejoice thereat. 



In making these gifts you have rendered us a timely service. 

 Hard work and accumulation are grand in their way, provided, 

 always, that they lift us into the domain of thought and honest, 

 wholesome sentiment. Your gifts will help to lift us above the mere 

 sordidness and deadness of labor. These statues will speak to us of 

 some of the sweeter aspects of human toil. 



Proserpine will tell of the principle of vegetation, and make us 

 think of great causes. 



Ceres, the symbol of corn and tillage, will speak to us of the benefi- 

 cence of nature working hand in hand with man. 



Flora will sing to us of the tenderness of nature as she surrounds 

 us with smiling flowers. 



Pomona will tell us of the supreme kindness that enriches man 

 with delightful fruits. 



And we may be sure that the young, at least, will hear these voices, 

 and become, on that account, stronger and more lovely in character 

 and life. 



Gentlemen, in the name of the State Agricultural Society, I accept 

 your gift; on behalf of the husbandmen of California I return you 

 cordial thanks. 



