COUNTY EEPOETS. 493 



peritj. Fifty years ago lie would have been called a maniac, 

 who had foretold the position and prosperity of our country to- 

 day. The universal intelligence diffused by our common schools, 

 give us peace and prosperity at home, and strength and respect- 

 ability abroad. Already our policy is independent, our genius 

 grapples with the difficulties which have been the gordian knot 

 to the nations of the old world, and we conquer them without 

 difficulty. Who then, with such a past looking upon the tab- 

 lets of history fifty years hence, could expect to find written 

 against our name other words than Excelsior. 



The time is soon to come, and is even now upon the verge of 

 existence, when our nation shall take the lead of the whole world 

 in civilization and refinement. Since then, this is to be the case, 

 and since agriculture must form the basis to the national struc- 

 ture, and since the intelligence, energy and virtue of the whole 

 mass must depend upon its undivided members ; how earnestly 

 the genius of liberty beckons — how strongly duty commands us 

 to put forth our best efforts in the ciuse of improvement. La- 

 dies here we ask your controlling influence, your potent aid. 

 Eecollect that in vain his satanic majesty tempted man to eat 

 the forbidden fruit — angels might have done the same with a 

 like result; but when the influence of woman was brought upon 

 him he no longer had the power to withstand, or having the 

 power he lacked the inclination. 



As we hinted before, the home the fixed habitation of man is 

 the first step toward civilization. A happy pleasant home, the 

 source and necessary attendant of prosperity ; woman alone pos- 

 sesses the power to make home desirable, her smiles ever inspire 

 the genius of society with increased excellence, and the prosper- 

 ity which we see here to-day is conclusive evidence that you are 

 not remiss in your duties. 



Ladies, I am instructed by the officers of the Society to return 

 you thanks for the part you have taken in the exhibition, and 

 in doing so permit me to remark, that without your department 

 the Fair would lack one of its greatest attractions. I regret the 

 necessity which compels me to omit mentioning in detail the 

 various articles of ornament and use which you exhibit. You 



