THE HOME BEAUTIFUL 59 



head, I thanked God that Nehraska" had received, nurtured and matured 

 a man of such sterling worth of character and inspiring example to all 

 our people. The peculiar arrangement of the sentimental keyboard of 

 our nature answers the chords that things pertaining of rural life set 

 vibrating. The inner life is more responsive. The fierce suns in strictly 

 c"ommercial pursuits often parch and we are thirsty for the gentle rains 

 and noiseless dews that opportunity for reflection gives. Lofty spirit and 

 sublime thought are fed and refreshed by such a conjpanionsihip. 



I believe that men become more and more optimistic by consorting 

 with trees, flowers and shrubs. Like the bird who frequents their abiding 

 place, when he sings, he is apt to be looking upward, for the enrgizing 

 power which is behind all naural life impels it skyward, so with mankind 

 who seeks the companionship of the beautiful, there is an uplifting and 

 soaring ability imparted which carries him above the clouds. As a rule 

 the pessimist seeks the darkened cave and is willing to grope around in 

 the shadows. * 



Before closing permit me to say a word or two in regard to a sub- 

 ject upon which so much attention has of late been paid in our country, 

 that is, Forestry and the re-forestation of the territory that in so many 

 ways has been the ruthless prey of the mere moneyseeker and those care- 

 less and thoughtless people who, with no concern apparently for their 

 own cr the weal of the future residents of the land, have destroyed that 

 which has such a vital connection with the material condition both pres- 

 ent and future of our country. The attention which thinking people are 

 giving to this very important subject has been and unquestionably will be, 

 fruitful of immense good To have the occupant of the presidential chair 

 together with many leaders in thought and action speaking and acting 

 in no uncertain way, betokens better things for the nation. The crimin- 

 ality of the waste in regard to our timber lands has been most repre- 

 hensible. The destructive instead of the constructive principle has tar- 

 ried too long with us and it behooves those wlio are alive to what a 

 condition of affairs will inevitably lead to, that they join hands in stem- 

 ming the tide of such ruthless waste and seek to be the leaders in an ag- 

 gressive campaign which has for its object the retimebering of much land 

 that has been depleted of trees, and the further extension of the forest 

 area in the prairie states, espcially in our own state. Such a mision will 

 be fraught with wonderful opportunity for good. I shall not stop to 

 specifically enumerate the different phases of this work or the peculiar 

 adaptability of a large portion of our state for the furtherance of this 

 scheme but content myself with the broad assertion that here in Nebraska 

 we have placed in our hands by a wise Creator a territory that calls into 

 service those whose eyes and thoughts are not merely hungering for more 

 territory to devastate in their fearful greed for immediate pecuniary 

 benefit, but who carry with them the trade mark and working tools of the 

 true tree lover — those constructive and perceptive principles whose 

 planting is not merely the gratification of self and whose vision perceives 

 the untold benefits that pass as a legacy to those who are to follow. 



