250 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In a thousand little ways, and with the rare art of knowing how to make a little 

 money do a great service, the housewife can make her home attractive to her family and 

 friends. Some will say that they have no taste or ingenuity in that way ; but you can 

 say to them, try at any rate ; although, when you see the result of their attempt, you 

 might feel sorry that you gave the advice. It is idle for people who live in rented houses, 

 although inconvenient and badly constructed, perhaps, to say that it does not pay to spend 

 time and labor to make them look home-like. The old adage comes in here aptly : 

 " Put the best side out." A very little expended for paper and paint, and may be other 

 conveniences, will often "pay" over and over again in comfort and health. There is 

 no excuse for allowing the yard and garden to grow to tall grass and weeds, or the fences to 

 become broken, because it is rented property. If there can be no choice shrubbeiy 

 grown in the front yard, a bed of verbenas, pansies and asters, can be cultivated, with 

 little expenditure of strength and time, while they will be a source of beauty and plea- 

 sure all summer. God made annuals on purpose for people who live in rented houses ; 

 and I consider it a sort of disgrace for people to disregard these God-given beauties, 

 when they can be had so cheaply — almost for the asking. Let me say here, that I 

 believe that many, very many more than do, could possess homes of their own, instead 

 of paying out yearly large sums of rent for houses, both poorly built and uncomfortable. 

 If people would be content to live even in small houses, in a modest way, and call them 

 their own, and expend that which they would pay out for rent, in improving and enlarg- 

 ing them, I think it would give them far more happiness and comfort; and, in a finan- 

 cial point of view, they would be the gainers also. Besides this, there is a great pleasure 

 in seeing things grow and prosper which belong to you. How much satisfaction it gives 

 to watch the growth of a choice shrub or evergreen, a fruit tree or grapevine, we who 

 possess homes know. There may be a selfish element in the idea, but there is luxury in 

 possession, which I believe to be not only entirely excusable in us, but also praiseworthy. 



The farmer, with all the hurry and bustle of farm work, should find time to improve 

 and beautify his home. It is no excuse to say that he has no time. Trees and hedges 

 should be planted, and kept closely trimmed ; for, in this prairie country of ours, what 

 is more beautiful ? God has been so lavish in his expenditure of materials, which he 

 gives us, with which we can adorn and beautify our homes, that I consider it a sin not 

 to employ them to our own best advantage. The effect is to refine, ennoble and purify. 

 Who can estimate the power of a beautiful Christian home, adorned with the princely 

 treasures of God's own handiwork, upon ourselves, our children and our friends? Is 

 there an erring one in the family ? What can be more effectual in restoring the lost 

 one, than the influence of a beautiful home, where dwell cheerful faces and loving 

 hearts ? God never made an ugly thing ; and he never made us to look ugly, either in 

 our persons or characters. He bids us to use all the means in our power to make our- 

 selves look as well as we can ; and if it can be done by a few ruffles and feathers, rib- 

 bons and flowers, and jeweliy, too, if we can get it, it is all right, if they are all in 

 accordance with esthetic rules. The old puritanical, ascetic idea of mortified pride in 

 such things is done away, and is of the past, thank heaven ! 



We have in our power, then, to make our homes just as we choose. Shall they not 

 be made in such a way, with cheerful, loving hearts as the soul power, and christian 

 principles as the ground-work of all ? Thus shall they tend to refine our characters, 

 ennoble our lives, elevate our affections, and fit us for a far more beautiful " home not 

 made with hands." 



JACK.SONVILLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Officers for the Year commenxing June, 1873 — President, Hon. 

 Edward Scott ; Vice-President — B. H. Chapman ; Cor. Secretary and 

 Librarian — Dr. H. W. Milligan ; Recording Secretary — A. L. Hay ; 

 Treasurer — Mrs. Deweese. 



