SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 295 



experience of foremost minds still leave largely negative results for 

 what many had hoped would be a solution of this most important 

 |)n)I)l<Mn. If. in view of wli;it has Ix'on done, our suggestions appear 

 over-bold, we can only answer that our }>osition is in reality a modest 

 one — that of true education for the masses. We preach simply the 

 gospel of intelligence, of virtue, of philanthropy in its highest, 

 broadest sense. Every num needs a brother; every community its 

 neighbors. Commonwealth — citizens, 'riic world -men. Christian 

 civilization — a constantly increasing number of those whose brighter 

 })ercei)tion, broader charity, intelligent reverence and better life in its 

 every phase shall augment the sum of human good; decrease the 

 sum of luuuan ill. 



In so far as this may be accomplished by a method of broad and 

 lii)eral education, whose foundation is stone, whose ins])iration and 

 ultimate eml shall be the highest virtue, the truest manliness, that 

 method demands of you your good will and ''God speed." 



Prof. Burrill — 1 wish to emphasize the remark that the stu- 

 dents that come to the University late in life are the hardest workers 

 we have. They seem to feel that they have lost the earlier years of 

 tiieir life, and make a special effort to make the most of what is left. 



Mrs. Shelton — I think, as a rule, country boys have a greater 

 desire to secure an education than town or city boys, and make bet- 

 ter use of their opportunities. This is, perhaps, on the principle 

 that those things which cost but little are lightly appreciated. The 

 city boy often has an education forced upon him, while the country 

 boy can only secure it by labor and self-denial. 



Mr. Leeper — T feel that I am paid for attending this meeting 

 by this one paper. It is just what our farmers should hear, and I 

 regret that there are not more of them present to hear it. It shows 

 that its author has given the subject much thought. 



WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. 



The following papers were read by the writers, but for want of 

 ^ time were not discussed: 



FLORAL (} LEANINGS. 



HY MRS. DR. RORRINS, CARTHAGE. 



Oh, the Howers look up every place through this beautiful 

 world of ours. Knowing the mission of the llowers, let us open 

 the portals of our hearts and liomes to those messengers of love; 



