State Agricultural Society. 201 



Here, too, is a music show, which, for the extent of its display and 

 the elegance of its instruments, is entirely without a rival in our history, 

 and would be an honor to any Fair held in our land. 



We have also an unparalleled exhibition of furniture, manufactured 

 within our own State, from material grown on our own soil; while the 

 display of California manufactured vehicles would compare favorably 

 with the best seen anywhere. 



But further than this, there have come " wise men from the East" to 

 show us the fruits of their skill and industry. The empire of Japan has 

 stretched out her hand, laden with the elegant products of her industry, 

 across a watery waste of ten thousand miles, and looks you in the face 

 from the post of honor this evening; and surely, after an impartial exam- 

 ination of this inagnificent display, no intelligent mind can despise the 

 civilization of the Japanese. 



We have also instituted a system of exchanges with more than twenty 

 of kindred institutions in the older States — sending them supplies of our 

 fruits and grains, and in return receiving theirs, which are now before 

 you in this building. Thus, while this course, and the throwing of our 

 competition open to all North America, has given us a national charac- 

 ter, and the proffer of Eastern Asiatic nations to enter the arena with 

 us, an international character — and this, with our peculiarly fortunate 

 location, will in a short time render our exhibition more cosmopolitan in 

 character than any other of the kind held on the globe. 



We have also added, at considerable expense of time and labor, another 

 entirely new feature, a living floral garden. This has been so successfully 

 arranged and supervised by one of the Society's oldest servants and best 

 friends, that it cannot fail to be an object of deep interest to every lover 

 of the harmonious combination of Nature and Art who may attend the 

 Fair. Nay, I should not wonder if its fragrant bowers and moss cov- 

 ered seats witnessed more than one solution of the problem, how can two 

 be only one? 



But time forbids my specifying here. 



I propose a trip to the Park. And as most of us have drunk the cup 

 and eaten the crust and slept in the blanket of pioneer toils, a little remi- 

 niscence, by the way, may not be out of place. 



Though last week we were merchants and statesmen, lawyers and 

 physicians, preachers and politicians, Eastern men and Western men, 

 Northern men and Southern men, Republicans and Democrats, Catholics 

 and Protestants, Jews and Mahomedans, with characteristics as diverse 

 as the forms of our features or the shades of our faith, yet this week 

 here we meet on common grounds — we are all agx-iculturists, believing 

 in Agricultural Fairs, and loving such of their fruits as hot rolls and fried 

 chicken, roast beef and plum pudding, warm blankets and 2:40 teams. 



But really, why so much ado about agriculture? The culturist is a 

 staid, sober, candid man, not full of form and ceremony, nor yet of shouts 

 and enthusiasm. 



His golden harvest fields, his bleating flocks, and lowing herds, and 

 prancing steeds, and flowing vines all inspire him with emotions holier 

 than mirth, more dignified than enthusiasm. 



And yet, at his success the world is full of joy. In this success the 

 soldier sees the guarantee of fuller, fresher rations, the merchant of 

 enlarged commerce, and the epicure of more richly laden sideboards. 

 In this success every laborious profession, every honest calling, every 



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