88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



in the world, and that so far as the simple enjoyment of it is con- 

 cerned, whatever one's eye can command and his soul can appro- 

 priate is his. In taking it he robs no one, but simply comes into 

 possession of his own. 



Wealth of thought, like wealth of beauty, is his who can appro- 

 priate it rather than his who can purchase it. Nor does that fully 

 express the truth of the matter. These things cannot be acquired 

 by purchase. One may buy the casket which contains them, the 

 mould in which they were formed; but, to possess the Jeweled 

 treasure itself, he must earn it, he must conquer it, he must 

 deserve it. A man may buy a book which contains an overflowing 

 fountain of wisdom and of wit — which fairly bubbles over with 

 mirth' and sympathy and right feeling; but does he thereby pos- 

 sess these treasures? Not at all. He must acquire them, if they 

 are to be his, by a different procedure, and it may be that he can- 

 not acquire them at all. 



In the light of these considerations, what should be our feehng 

 and thought, and what our action relative to those things which 

 seem worthless? The emphasis, if you please, is upon the word 

 "seem," for this discussion is to go forward upon my part on the 

 assumption that there is nothing absolutely worthless ; nothing but 

 what may be of use in some way; nothing but what is capable of 

 service if we could but learn when and how. If we cannot prove 

 this, we may adopt it as the scientists do some of their theories, as 

 a working hypothesis, to the truth of which many things point, 

 and the fallacy of which, if it be fallacious, will best be shown by 

 assuming its truth and seeing whether or no the things we know 

 to be true will fit it. 



Now, it is very possible that every person in this audience has 

 in mind something that seems to them worthless. It may be that 

 no two of you are thinking of the same thing. I do not care for 

 that. It is enough that for whatever is in your thought you can 

 find no use; from it you can command no service. Our inquiry 

 must be directed to find out, if we can, the reason and the remedy 

 for its seeming worthlessness. We will not admit that it is incapa- 

 ble of use or service, for to do that would be to block the wheels 

 of investigation, and to stifle the spirit of inquiry. 



One very common reason why a thing cannot be of service is 

 because it is not in the right place. Take, for illustration, a beef 

 animal. Place him upon some remote portion of the South Amer- 



