FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 381 



said "by tlicui of old time" concerning books that most of us would throw into 

 the fire with disgust at their impurity or contempt for their frivolity. 



The question, "Shall we permit dancing in our homes?" is one now in dis- 

 pute. Opinions have changed also with reference to this agreeable diversion, 

 once regarded as the pet delusion of the evil one. It is now much more favor- 

 ably regarded, and is permitted in many Christian homes. 



The sweeping moral objections that have been made to dancing are an insult 

 to thousands of as pure-minded men and women as there are in the country. If 

 dancing is allowed to interfere with regular and orderly habits of life, it is 

 objectionable ; but as it may be indulged in at home, it is an innocent and beau- 

 tiful amusement. It is as natural for children to dance as for birds to sing ; 

 and indulged in at home in the early hours of evening would be conducive to 

 health and those graces of person and carriage that enhance God's physical 

 gifts. But why should I tarry to specify amusements, believing, as I have 

 already stated, tliat those likely to be indulged in at home, if never sought after 

 in places wdiere the corrupting influence of evil associations are sure to be felt, 

 are perfectly harmless. Let there be cultivated in the home a fervent love for 

 what is pure and just and honorable, a cordial abhorrence of what is sensual, 

 mean, tricky, and ungenerous, and there need be no fear of the influence of the 

 amusements in such a home, whatever they are. 



Every home should have a liberal supply of good books. There are many 

 things that we can better afford to be without than books, and but few that we 

 can so ill afford to be destitute of. Books are not furniture, and yet they con- 

 stitute the best furnishing that a house can possibly have. A family that is 

 content to walk on cheap carpets and to have the plainest of furniture in order 

 that they may have the fellowship of good books, at once rises in our estima- 

 tion on our discovery of the fact. Children learn to read in the presence of 

 books, and as they read the love of knowledge grows. 



In the farmer's home more than in any otlier a library is an absolute necessity. 

 These homes are more or less remote from the circulating library of the village 

 and from the winter course of lectures. Being thus rendered more dependent 

 on the resources of homo for mental quickening and the improvement of the 

 long winter evenings, there is a greater necessity, both morally and intellectually, 

 for the enjoyment and stimulus of a librai'v. We have been speaking of the 

 importance of home attractions. Few things will make home more attractive 

 than a judiciously selected library. It is impossible to over-estimate its influence 

 for good. Tlirougli the perusal of good books pure and elevated tastes are 

 formed that will abide forever, strengthening the individual to resist tempta- 

 tion, and leading in ways of virtue and wisdom. 



The farmer needs a library not only as a home attraction, but also that he 

 may successfully prosecute his calling. His is a profession that requires study 

 as truly as any other. The best understanding of agriculture is possible only 

 to him who has a knowledge of the physical sciences. The farmer requires also 

 a large practical knowledge of men and things, of tlie laws of barter and 

 exchange, in order to success. Farming is a profession which calls to its aid 

 science and the mechanic arts, and in every department of it taxes the inventive 

 genius of him who pursues it. Armed with knowledge the farmer discovers 

 remedies for the sterility of the soil. And as the skilled and watchful naviga- 

 tor protects and guides his vessel, outriding in safety the fury of the storm, so 

 the intelligent farmer finds means of guarding the fruits of his toil amid vicis- 

 situdes that would otherwise render his labor abortive. Bacon has said " Knowl- 



