Of) STATE PUMULOGICAL SOCIKTY. 



(liieclly by teaching laws and principles, and indirectly by training: 

 the perception aw] reas()nin«j faculties for better service in the years 

 of later life. A bill is now before the Legislature, I believe, which, 

 if it becom 'S a la.v, will rjcj lire public schools to givc instruction ia 

 agiicultural chemistry. So far, so good. 



And now, since a happy life is made up of many things l)eside 

 linancial success, let us pass on to another phase of the subje(,"t and 

 see how a knowledge of ihe naJural sciences can aid in making farm 

 life more agreeable in an jvsthetic point of view. 



There are people who love study for its inherent pleasures, and, 

 if there were no pecuniary or social advantage likely to resulu would 

 still give more or less time to its pursuit. Jo3's which come in this 

 line aie of a high order, and will do much to make the possessor 

 content in any place where his lot may be cast. While farm life has 

 some obstacles in tiie way of such enjoyments, it still has much to 

 aid and assist. Here we are brought near to nature, and, if heart 

 be in harmony with her Maker aud mind be trained to discern her 

 marvelous beaiuies, we shall find an unfailino: source of delight in 

 the mukitude (^f wonders on every hand Rocks and trees, forest 

 and garden, the earth beneath, the sky above, furnish an inexhaust- 

 ible and ever fascinating field for stud}' and recreation. But, as be- 

 fore, the question may be asked, how is this training to be obtained 

 if we have not been so fortunate as to receive it in our younger days? 

 Granted again that there aie some difiiculties, yet they are not in- 

 superable. In tlie first place I beg the mothers to be governed l)y a 

 little common sense. There seems to be no excuse in this late dav 

 for a woman to go into hysterics at the sight of a moute, or turn a 

 whole congregation into a i>anic stricken mob at the presence of a 

 harnjless June bug A slight knowledge of natural historv will teach 

 her better, and this she can acquire with as little time and expense as 

 it takes to read some novels, adding thereto just a moderate mental 

 eflEort. Then such objects of aversion and terror will become mat- 

 ters of deep interest. It would be to her like the vision of beasts 

 to Peter, teaching her that nothing the Lord has made is common or 

 unclean. But the mischief of her ignorance and folly does not, un- 

 happily, end with her own discomfiture. The children of the famil}' 

 catch the feeling and repeat over and over the same ridiculous ex- 

 periences. Sometimes, alas, this feeling of aversion for living creat- 

 ures is not taught indirectly but directly also, thus filling little 

 breasts naturally loving and tender with contempt and hatred for 

 things made like them of flesh and blood. 



