COUNTY EEPOETS. 819 



also to have shrubbery growing, or a crop such as corn, cultiva- 

 ted between the yard and the house, I have seen places where 

 things were thus arranged, and I heard no complaint of flies. 



I should not have spoken at so great length of the farmer and 

 his occupation, were it not that I was requested so to do by the 

 officers and friends of the Society. In leaving this department 

 allow me to say that a farmer, surrounded by his famih' and the 

 other necessaries and comforts of life, is certainly the best repre- 

 sentation of a "nobleman " that society furnishes. 



Of the department of art I must speak very briefly. The me- 

 chanics and manufacturer of this county have done themselves 

 much honor by the enterprising manner in which they conduct- 

 ed their several branches of business. Threshing machines, 

 reapers, carriages, and other similar articles, manufactured in 

 E-acine county, find their way to all parts of this State as well 

 as to neighboring States ; and our builders go to other cities to 

 erect large and expensive buildings. This has given our county 

 a reputation in the State which I hope will not be allowed to 

 wane. All over the State we may see the same thrift and ener- 

 gy among this class of producers — a class which always forms a 

 most essential part of a commonwealth. Wisconsin has manu- 

 facturing facilities surpassed by no other State, and equalled by 

 few ; and passed success warrants us in believing that our State 

 will, ere long, be second to none in this department of trade. 



I regret that I have not more time to speak of the department 

 of beauty, in which there are so many things worthy of notice. 

 I am sure the farmers and mechanics will feel thankful that the 

 ladies have so generously contributed to the exhibition. We 

 shall no more throw the blame on them because Mother Eve 

 yielded to the temptations of the serpent. Nay, I cannot but 

 rejoice that Eve did take the lead in that matter, for I fear that 

 if Adam had acted the principal part, the fall might have been a * 

 thousand times worse than it now is. 



No people can long be prosperous and great unless they en- 

 gage in business that will give stability to society ; that will call 

 forth the energies of the masses ; and that will produce the means 

 on which they may subsist. Large armies and navies, though 



