SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 237 



the beautiful appearance of one lawn, which an enterprising citizen, 

 gaining his ideas elsewhere, at length put and kept in order. One 

 after another began to look after his long neglected grounds, and 

 soon a shabby lot was too noticeable by contrast to be permitted to 

 long remain conspicuous in that way. To be sure, the times were 

 ripe for such a change; but a beginning was needed, an examj)le to 

 stir sluggish thought, a pattern to quicken the ideas of possibilities 

 and methods, a something to awaken home and personal pride. Let 

 us, then, pay attention to the beautiful and attractive in our art, as 

 well as to the lucrative. Let us strive to make our good land a land 

 of tlowers and of fruit, noted for its natural resources, but more con- 

 spicuous for its wealth of attractions and productions, springing 

 into existence under the stiuiulating influences of busy hands and 

 loving hearts — a land beautified by art, enriched by peaceful indus- 

 try, and made sacred by happy homes and a contented people. 



A manuscript upon "Industrial Education " had been prepared 

 as a Presidential address, but owing to the fullness of the pro- 

 gramme only an oral abstract of the paper was presented. This, at 

 the President's request, is omitted. 



NxVTURE'S MUTE MINISTERS. 

 BY MRS. DR. NOTES, CARTHAGE. 



The mere fact that vegetation in some form — from the lovely 

 flowering plants and luxuriant foliage of the tropics, to the simple 

 little snow ])lant of arctic and alpine regions — is found in all parts 

 of the habitable Avorld, is convincing proof that this was no incon- 

 siderate part of the plan of our great Creator. 



Bestowed upon us with a lavish hand, both for our profit and 

 our enjoyment, it become no less a duty than a ])leasure for us to 

 study these plants, especially the flowers — they beiug the part of 

 the plant to which nature seems to have given her greatest care. 

 We find that even the least conspicuous flowers reveal, under the 

 microscope, an exquisite beauty. That all command our aduiiratinn, 

 from our stately and gaudy sunflower, towering haughtily above 

 other plants, and ever turning to welcome the god of day, down to 

 the modest little daisy, which has been beautifully described as a 

 " little white flower, which may be seen in tbe meadows in the spring 

 of the year, low and liuml)le on the ground, opening its bosom to 

 receive the pleasant beams of the sun's glory, rejoicing as it were in 

 a calm rapture; diffusing around a sweet fragrance; standing peace- 

 fully and lovingly in the midst of other flowers around al)out, all in 

 like manner opening tcj drink in the light of the sun." 



Flowers have been, from time immemorial, the poet's represent- 

 atives of innocence, modesty, purity and love, and have ever been 



