14G TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



The poets have never wearied of repeating their impressive 

 poetic legends o£ autumn^s decay. Take the grandest passage in the 

 grandest poem of the w^orld (Milton's "Paradise Lost"), or the most 

 sublime passage in Thomson, on the Seasons; follow them and their 

 gloomy description of the fleeting seasons, by which we are carried 

 away as a departed Sabbath of earth, or as a tale that is told. 



They teach us so impressively the lesson of the general desola- 

 tion of nature. They appeal to the natural human sympathies and 

 the heart as very many of the poetic legends of such minds do; and 

 we are led to look forward to that autumn's decline which time must 

 bring to all. 



We are reminded that after we shall have beheld a few more 

 changing seasons, all that now bless and all that now convulse hu- 

 manity must give place to other active workers and busy feet; the 

 grandest pageantry of life will have passed away; the loudest note 

 of triumph or conquest will be silent in the dust. 



But surely there will be adequate compensation for our journey 

 through the changing seasons of so brief a life, for it has been well 

 said : 



"No winter shall be in Heaven ; no gathering gloom 

 Shall o'er that glorious landscape ever come. 

 No tears shall fall in sadness o'er those flowers 

 That breathe their fragrance through celestial bowers." 



The Committee on Final Resolutions presented the following 



REPORT: 



We would recommend the usual compliments to the various railroads 

 and hotels which have granted concessioas to our members. We would 

 also tender our grateful regards to the Messrs. Bryant and others who have 

 labored so assiduously for the comfort and pleasure of those attendiug the 

 meeting, and to the ladies and gentlemen who have furnished us such ex- 

 cellent music. Also to the Bureau County Agricultural Society, for fur- 

 nishing this convenient hall for the use of our Society ; and to the press of 

 Princeton for the liberal notices of our meeting. 



C. N. Dennis, 

 F. I. Mann, 



Coinmittee. 



Adjourned to meet at Alton the second Tuesday in December, 



1888. 



