FAKMERS' INSTITUTES. . 707 



as to give the long line of following generations a healthy body and an 

 active mind. And the just named fact has remained the same from the 

 very beginning until to-day: that the true and practical principles of 

 life are more easily, readily and surely acquired by association with 

 conditions in their natural state, unaltered in tholr workings by the 

 hand of man. 



Let us now examine the reconls of time for examples of ideal manhood: 

 to find where they were brought to a period of maturity and acquired 

 the essential qualities of energy and determination. "We will notice that 

 in most cases these attributes were a part of the stern and unassuming 

 life about their . boyhood's country home. 



It is here he comes to know by the performance of daily duties the 

 value of time in the accomplishment of each tasl< set before him; that 

 more vim and energy bring quiclier and more complete success; that, if 

 at first he fail, to determinedly try again and again until failure is no 

 more. All such important lessons, so difficult to acquire, are here im- 

 pressed upon the mind day after day, as the absolutely necessary and 

 rigid routine of work is finished by each nightfall. His mind as a whole 

 must develop to grasp and be in harmony with tlie broadness of the life 

 about him. In fact I believe the principal difference between the mind 

 of the rural and the city-bred youth may be expressed in this, that the 

 former has a kind of "practical broadness" in his view of the facts and 

 conditions which govern human progress. Can not the greater part of 

 you call to mind an example of some individual, wlio, although he has 

 graduated in his profession and holds the certificate of proficiency, yet 

 is unable to carry on his business successfully— is not a success? Yes, 

 of course you can, for such examples are common. When some one, 

 surprised at this unlooked for failure, asks why, is not our answer gener- 

 ally something like this: "Oh yes, he does seem to know enough, but 

 somehow can't put it to use; he doesn't seem to understand the common 

 ways of the world: he don't take well?" Ah yes! that is it. The sur- 

 roundings and associations of his youth have not given him a broad mind. 

 His training has been onesided. 



Now, where was the early home of that young man you have in mind? 

 Was he one of those country laddies, who used to make the fire and feed 

 the farm stock before going to school, and must haul wood or shell corn 

 for mill on Saturday? No, not often, because this fellow understands how 

 to use what he knows and will spare no pains to do so; this kind of 

 young man knew just about what he was going to do with his knowledge, 

 even before the course to acquire it had begim. 



I remember of a conversation Avith a young man, a resident in one 

 of the lai'ge cities. He talked of the various colleges there, in which 

 he was then talcing different courses of instruction; it was after dis- 

 coursing at some length upon the various advantages of each, and the 

 grand opportunities he had at his command to make himself great that 

 he brought over a remark in a half pitying way, something like this; 



