18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



acres — it is built near the road, and the inclosure that surrounds it is used 

 as a pasture. Save a few stunted fruit trees in a distant corner, not a tree 

 or shrub is to be seen, and all the surroundings are as dreary and cheerless 

 as a desert scene. That dingy-looking, dilapidated house is the residence 

 of a young man, who ten years ago settled there, with few dollars in his 

 pocket, but full of hope and faith in the future. But he committed the 

 common error of bending all his energies to making money, and neglected 

 to provide for his intellectual and aesthetic wants. The result can be 

 imagined. By incessant physical toil he has become prematurely old, 

 and broken in health and dwarfed in mind, with moral and religious 

 faculties impaired. He sees too late his mistake. Had he labored less 

 severely, and spent a few dollars and a little time in planting trees and 

 flowers, his home would have been worthy of the name, his wife would 

 not have lost the rose from her cheek and the sparkle from her eye, his 

 children would have been more bright and intelligent, and his own 

 mind unclouded. 



On the next farm we find the house and surroundings in about the 

 same condition ; but the good wife, possessing an innate love of nature's 

 beautiful things, has, with her own hands, in moments snatched from 

 needed rest, planted and trained a few trees and flowers, thus relieving it 

 from perfect desolation. 



In such homes as these the children cannot have the advantage of good 

 society or elevating associations. Education is considered of little im- 

 portance ; but work, work, is the all-important thing. 



These are a fair representation of many of the rural homes in the 

 State. It is, therefore, needless to pursue the disagreeable subject further; 

 but rather let us glance at the opposite picture. Near by we see a humble, 

 but tasteful cottage, painted a soft and neutral color. In the background 

 may be seen the thrifty orchard, bearing its burden of choicest fruit. 

 Immediately in the rear of the house is the carefully cultivated garden, 

 yielding all manner of vegetables and small fruit. The barn and out- 

 buildings are protected by belts and clumps of trees, the lawn is judi- 

 ciously planted with evergreen and deciduous trees, and a modest flower 

 garden sheds its fragrance upon the evening air; the wistaria, honey- 

 suckle and rose clamber about the porch ; and all presents a scene of 

 wondrous sylvan beauty. Enter the house, and we find the same air 

 of refinement pervading every apartment ; books and papers upon the 

 table, and pictures upon the wall. The carpets, curtains and furniture 

 are all in taste, and correspond with the exterior. The children of 

 such a home as this, being in the enjoyment of the many luxuries of life, 

 good society and educational privileges, will have little desire for the 

 glitter and excitement of the city, but willingly settle down to the enjoy- 

 ment of a quiet, useful life. 



Never in the world's history has there been such a necessity resting 

 upon any people as presses the rural population of America to-day. 



To them the nation looks with hope; from them must be recruited the 

 decimated ranks of professional and business men ; and may we not hope 

 that from them may spring up a class of statesmen who will not betray the 



