FAKMERS' INSTITUTES. 341 



seminary, she firmly believes that the further business of her life is to fall in 

 love and get married. AVhen this is accomplished, and the round of domestic 

 duties entered upon, how is she to bend her energies to some new and unexplored 

 field to keep pace with her husband. It is a fact that many of the American 

 women are truly troubled Marthas. And liow are they to "rise above those 

 circumstances that would and do enslave them?" Alas ! If one dare step out 

 of the narrow track in which her foremothers have walked for generations, she 

 is instantly dubbed as "strong-minded," which, spoken by masculine lips, 

 means everythhig that is indelicate and unwomanly, and which, with its present 

 significance, is a term of rcproacli. AVhen mothers cease to teach their daughters 

 that marriage is the chief end and aim of their existence ; when society can 

 receive a woman out of her teens without endeavoring to mortify her by apply- 

 ing the epithet "old maid," in a slurring manner, as though she were in some 

 way disgraced by living an independent life, then will woman not only equal, 

 but perhaps excel her brother in mental attainments. Teach her that she as 

 well as he has a noble work to do in this life, then the close of her school days 

 will find her fitted to commence some vocation in earnest, rather than to sit 

 down and idly wait for the coming man. Examples of smart and talented 

 women are not lacking to show us that woman can become both capable and 

 intellectual if she chooses. Thousands of women to-day are abominable lionse- 

 keepers who would have shone resplendent in other work. I would detract from 

 the usefulness and honor of no employment, for nothing can be done Avithout the 

 help of a certain kind and degree of intelligence ; but I do protest against the 

 obstinate and intellectual waste of brain and talent that has so characterized 

 the past, — a waste that inevitably results from misappliance. Thousands of 

 farmers' daughters in school, in kitchen, in parlor, possess the power to serve and 

 bless the world. How can they best do it? It is a question for parents, guar- 

 dians, and especially themselves, to think about. The present and the future 

 demand more than the past received. How shall the demand be met? Ever 

 since the foot of man first pressed the green grass of earth, or the guiding star 

 moved and stood still in the east, civilization and education have moved forward 

 slowly but surely, hoping for a brighter future. The prayers of Godlike men 

 and virtuous, heroic women have ascended to heaven, petitioning for better days, 

 — days when all mankind miglit enjoy the rich reward of education, and stand 

 free before their fellow men. " Something better ! " " Something better ! " is 

 man's eternal cry. It needs scarce a prophet to foretell that great forces lie 

 slumbering. New sciences, new metals, new worlds are yet to be discovered. 

 Yon beautiful slopes shall teem with richer and nobler grains. The nineteenth 

 century has done more to raise the farmer to his true position than any other 

 since the world began. Decades are telling more wonderful stories now tlian 

 centuries used to. Then brother, sister, friend, whether tiller of the soil, wife 

 and equal, or humble servant to either of these, although far from the accom- 

 plished amelioration of your class, there is a light ahead, and by making your 

 life something more than a vague questioning, a blind groping after something 

 hidden will your most lofty aspirations be satisfied, and the life work for which 

 you were created be nobly and truly accomplished. 



Dr. K. 0. Kedzie, of the Agricultural College, gave a lecture on " Electrical 

 Conduction." See lectures and addresses at close of Institutes. 



W. A. Dryer, an old pioneer of Lansing township, then read the following 

 paper on 



