The Bulletin. 41 



LECTURES DELIVERED AT WOMEN'S INSTITUTES. 



The following three lectures were delivered at the Women's Insti- 

 tutes during IDOO. Of necessity they are shorter and more formal 

 than when spoken, and thereby lose some of their original force : 



LITERATURE IN THE FARM HOME. 



By miss viola BODDIE. 



The deeper one penetrates the liidden mysteries of life, tlie more is he filled with 

 admiration for the beautiful simplicity, the perfect harmony, of creation. God's 

 law is ever the same, whether in the physical, mental, or moral world. Obedience 

 to that law means healtli, growth, happiness, life. Disobedience means disease, 

 sorrow, pain, death, decay. That law s:iys all growth is dejjendent upon food 

 and exercise. No sooner does the hviman body fail to be supplied with the proper 

 food than weakness and disease follow, ending in death. Cease to exercise any 

 muscle of your body and it becomes weak, finally losing its power. We know 

 that we must select not only nutritious food for our bodies, l)ut we must guard 

 against poisonous substances that may produce slow disease, if not sudden death. 



This law is equally true of our mental well-being. A well-known breakfast 

 food has upon its wrapper, "Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you 

 are." The student of character-building would say, "Tell me what you read, 

 and I will tell you what you aie." Literature is the great mental granary or 

 storehouse from which we draw the precious fruits of the master spirits of all 

 age-<. To sit at their feet, in the body, may have been denied us: but their 

 written thoughts may be ours for the asking. With these we may be on most 

 intimate terms, whatever gulf of time or c:iste may have sepiratr^d lis from those 

 who wrote these precious truths. Here we may be taught to avoid the mistakes 

 that have been made in the past; here we may walk in. the paths trod by the 

 successful men and women of the world ; here we may think the thoughts and 

 dream the dreams of the Godlike spirits who have seen visions of the things yet 

 to he — visions of hope that lift our feet far above the dust and mire of the steep 

 road that many of us must travel in this workaday world! In books we may 

 always find sympathetic friends — friends that never fail us, that never grow 

 jealous, never chide, never misunderstand, are never too busy to entertain us. 



Shall the countiy Avoman. who is often so far from friends in the flesh, be 

 denied these wholesome companions in spirit? Shall she who so often needs to 

 be cheered and uplifted after the daily round of petty cares and endless 

 drudirery be denied this spirit communion — these visions of the larger life? 

 Shall the farmer who cannot attend the club, and who seldom has time or oppor- 

 tunity to sharpen his own ideas on the grindstone of social converse, be deprived 

 of these wise counselors, these able helpers? Shall the countiw child to whom 

 other playmates are often denied by circumstance, not hold daily converse with 

 the dear children of literature, such as "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "Emmy 

 Lou"? No; town people may do without these companions better than the 

 farmer's family. People of the town have for their instruction other means than 

 books. They have more opportunity for companionship and recreation. 



The farmer's family can make no graver mistake than to think that there is 

 no time for i-eading in the farm home, that the economy often necessary in the 

 farmer's household does not allow the luxury of books, magazines, and papers. 

 If the country housewife is wise, she will recognize that these are necessary for 

 the well-being of her family, and not luxuries that may be dispensed with." She 

 will realize that good reading matter is as essential for the mental and spiritual 

 well-being of her cliildren as is good, wholesome food for the growth and strength 

 of their bodies. The farmer will economize to poor advantage if he saves by 



